draining
Leaving you depleted
Draining describes something that depletes energy, resources, or emotional reserves: Taking care of my mother is draining, a draining commute.
The word captures gradual exhaustion rather than sudden collapse—the slow emptying of a sink rather than pulling a plug.
Physically draining tasks tire the body; emotionally draining ones wear on the spirit.
Depleting one's stamina
- tiringCausing fatigue
- fatiguingCausing weariness or exhaustion
- enervatingCausing loss of vigor
- debilitatingCausing severe impairment
sapping · weakening · grueling · arduous · punishing · backbreaking · strenuous · demanding
Removing all contents
- sappingGradually draining vitality
- consumingUsing up entirely
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- reducingMaking less or smaller
exhausting · bleeding · tapping · milking · siphoning · drawing out · leaching · extracting
Depleting one's stamina
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- stressfulCausing worry or tension
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
- dishearteningCausing loss of hope
depressing · enervating · dispiriting · discouraging · frustrating · soul-crushing · numbing · deadening
exhausting
Depleting one's stamina
- tiringCausing fatigue
- fatiguingCausing weariness or exhaustion
- enervatingCausing loss of vigor
debilitating · sapping · weakening · grueling · arduous · punishing · backbreaking · strenuous · demanding · laborious
emptying
Removing all contents
- sappingGradually draining vitality
- consumingUsing up entirely
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
reducing · exhausting · bleeding · tapping · milking · siphoning · drawing out · leaching · extracting · depleting
exhausting
Depleting one's stamina
- overwhelmingIntensely excessive in force
- stressfulCausing worry or tension
- demoralizingDestroying confidence or hope
disheartening · depressing · enervating · dispiriting · discouraging · frustrating · soul-crushing · numbing · deadening · wearing
emptying
Removing all contents
- flushingWashing by water surge
- uncloggingRemoving an obstruction
- clearingTreeless space in forest
piping · sewage · runoff · outlet · culvert · gutter · sluice · channel · basin · sump
- decliningdeclining, waning, fading, diminishing, decreasing
- extractingmining, drilling, juicing, pulling, yanking
- fluid movementflowing, pouring, dripping, oozing, seeping
- gradual declinefading, waning, dwindling, diminishing, ebbing
- pasta cookingboiling, al dente, stirring, straining, tossing
- removing excesspruning, trimming, skimming, filtering, straining
draininginvigorating
Imparting fresh energy
energizing · refreshing · revitalizing · restorative · revitalising
drainingnourishing
Promoting health through food
replenishing · uplifting · fulfilling · sustaining · enriching
drainingfilling
Material placed within
flooding · pouring in · refilling · accumulating · pooling
- draining awayFlowing out gradually
- draining the swampRemoving systemic corruption
- draining boardSink-adjacent drying surface
- energy draining
- blood drainingLoss of circulatory fluid
drain, drained, drainage, drains, drainages, undrained, drain away, drain out