1
as in flooding
to cover with a flood
whole villages drowned by the rampaging river
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in soaking
to wet thoroughly with liquid
drowned the carpet with shampoo, and so it took forever to dry
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in wetting
to make wet
cooked pasta drowned in marinara sauce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drowning
The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, and a death investigation was launched as is standard procedure with drowning incidents, the sheriff’s office said.
—
Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
On May 18, 2025, Kiser's 3-year-old son Trigg died after a drowning accident at their home in Chandler, Arizona.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Vasquez had busted a hole through his attic ceiling with a tire tool, saving his wife, daughter, and two young grandchildren from drowning in their home.
—Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley has said previously the death resulted from drowning.
—Arkansas Online, 15 June 2026
The Larkspur Fire Protection District awards Megan and Rebecca for their help rescuing a 4-year-old boy from drowning.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Lucy, who was embarking on her senior year at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, died the day after the crash from drowning.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Big surf from a previous swell contributed to a drowning Saturday off Dana Point and, on Wednesday afternoon, the search continued for a young girl swept off the sand Tuesday evening in Laguna Beach.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Political experts contend that messages that seem contradictory to a candidate’s background, as well as drowning voters with incessant ads, can be jarring and off-putting to the electorate.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
On May 18, 2025, Kiser's 3-year-old son Trigg died after a drowning accident at their home in Chandler, Arizona.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Vasquez had busted a hole through his attic ceiling with a tire tool, saving his wife, daughter, and two young grandchildren from drowning in their home.
—Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley has said previously the death resulted from drowning.
—Arkansas Online, 15 June 2026
The Larkspur Fire Protection District awards Megan and Rebecca for their help rescuing a 4-year-old boy from drowning.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 13 June 2026
Lucy, who was embarking on her senior year at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, died the day after the crash from drowning.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Big surf from a previous swell contributed to a drowning Saturday off Dana Point and, on Wednesday afternoon, the search continued for a young girl swept off the sand Tuesday evening in Laguna Beach.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 11 June 2026
Political experts contend that messages that seem contradictory to a candidate’s background, as well as drowning voters with incessant ads, can be jarring and off-putting to the electorate.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drowning
Verb
-
The remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur battered parts of the southeastern United States with drenching rains and strong wind on Thursday, tearing through buildings, flooding homes and launching water rescues along the Gulf Coast.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Other speakers raised concerns about potential odors and air pollutants emanating from the wastewater treatment facility and about how the facility might exacerbate flooding in the area.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Out back, a secluded courtyard and soaking pool await.—
Sierra Vandervort,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2026
-
The fillets should be a little damp, but not soaking wet.—
Alex Robinson,
Outdoor Life,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
Irrigation should be applied at the base of the plant at the soil line to avoid wetting the blooms.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
-
Irrigate at the base of plants to avoid wetting foliage, which can encourage plant diseases like black spot.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
But the sight of fire and smoke engulfing the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site founded in 1051, drew significant and widespread condemnation.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
15 June 2026
-
Partying wasn’t limited to just the five boroughs, engulfing the surrounding suburbs, too.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Use only as much cleaning solution as necessary, and avoid saturating the area.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
-
Start by saturating the sponge with water and microwaving it on high for one to two minutes.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
If possible, unpack directly into the washing machine and run clothes on high heat for at least 30 minutes, both washing and drying.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 June 2026
-
Recharge the balls by washing them in a mesh bag on a delicate cycle, then air-dry or run them through a drying cycle on high heat.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Layering a buttery blazer over an all-white ensemble and coordinating it with a matching bag instantly brightens the whole outfit without overwhelming it.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
14 June 2026
-
Every dish and pairing is thoughtfully curated to awaken the palate without overwhelming it.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
El Niño is here A very strong El Niño often means drenching storms, flooding and mudslides in Southern California, as seen in the destructive winters of 1982-83, 1997-98 and the soaking 2023-24 season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2026
-
Melissa slammed Jamaica after drenching southern Haiti and parts of the Dominican Republic with heavy rains before continuing on to Cuba.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drowning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drowning. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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