siphon

verb

variants also syphon
Definition of siphonnext
1
as in to drain
to remove (liquid) gradually or completely I let the stranded motorist siphon some of my gas so he could be on his way

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to funnel
to cause to move to a central point or along a restricted pathway investigators discovered that the so-called charitable organization was siphoning funds for personal use

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of siphon The rise of other Jeffco programs also siphoned off talent that might have previously open enrolled at Columbine. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026 Sunday is also not gonna siphon that many votes from Cardellini, a TV vet. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026 That unsustainable spike has siphoned away money to fund, for example, street repairs, public transit and health care services for the needy. — Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 The candidate is linked to — but not accused of any wrongdoing in — a corruption case involving two former advisors and a lobbyist who siphoned $225,000 money from one of Becerra’s campaign accounts. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for siphon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siphon
  1. drain
  2. funnel
  3. pump
  4. direct
  5. pipe
  6. channel
  7. carry
Verb
  • In your audit, emergency reserves are separated from non-retirement assets because they should not ever be drained unless there is an emergency.
    — Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Then, crews from the Urban Search and Rescue team worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to drain the tank and help save the remaining bears from drowning, officials said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of drain
Verb
  • The men’s pro basketball league found that his Los Angeles Clippers illegally circumvented its salary cap by funneling millions of dollars, off the books, to star player Kawhi Leonard.
    — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The deal is the latest example of Gulf capital being funneled into Syria’s reconstruction, aligned with a broader US effort to keep the country out of Iran’s orbit.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of funnel
Verb
  • Emergency workers have pumped air and dropped food into one tunnel but have yet to establish communication with anyone inside.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The first uses a special rig that pumps sCO₂ through real downhole equipment under realistic conditions.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of pump
Verb
  • The festival later added to the competition with the Gaza documentary NAZA, co-directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, bringing the total to two.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The matching fabric shade is designed to diffuse some of the light and direct it downward for a softer, more ambient effect.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of direct
Verb
  • The cost of powering homes is also up, with electricity and piped gas both costing around 4% more annually.
    — Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The collection also features a special Poké Ball Doughnut, glazed and dipped in vanilla icing, topped with red sprinkles and piped with chocolate icing.
    — Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of pipe
Verb
  • The film looks at Bareilles’ experience of channeling her own pain to create art and the healing journey that accompanied it.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Citizen, published two months after Brown’s killing, seemed to channel that righteous fury.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of channel
Verb
  • Washington claimed that the launchers were preparing to fire rockets carrying sea mines into the Hormuz Strait.
    — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When difficulty arrives, will your routines carry you forward?
    — Jason Bork, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of carry

Browse Nearby Words

sip
siphon
siphoned
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Siphon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siphon. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on siphon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about siphon

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