as in to rinse
to pour liquid over or through in order to cleanse
if you get the chemical in your eye, irrigate the eye thoroughly with water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 irrigate
Sergio Rojas, an Indigenous activist from the Qom community, told Global Witness that, in addition to destroying rainforest, agricultural corporations had diverted rivers to irrigate their crops.
—
David Vetter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Because the hospital lacked saline to irrigate wounds, doctors mixed tap water with chlorine meant for swimming pools.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Just 110 square meters of mesh could supply enough water to irrigate a city’s green spaces for a year.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
Owners Gary and Linda Brauns experimented with irrigating the fields in 2012 (which had struggled to thrive previously), and by springtime that year, about 80 of the vines were back.
—Alessandra Amodio, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
David Vetter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Because the hospital lacked saline to irrigate wounds, doctors mixed tap water with chlorine meant for swimming pools.
—Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2025
Just 110 square meters of mesh could supply enough water to irrigate a city’s green spaces for a year.
—Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
Owners Gary and Linda Brauns experimented with irrigating the fields in 2012 (which had struggled to thrive previously), and by springtime that year, about 80 of the vines were back.
—Alessandra Amodio, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
-
If your machines are not designed to wash, rinse, and spin-dry such bulky items, a large duvet could ruin the spin mechanism.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
31 May 2025
-
The air of familiarity goes a long way in establishing a new story and avoiding a wash, rinse and repeat cycle involving any stories or other characters from The Karate Kid movies and Cobra Kai.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
The linen cotton blend isn’t see-through and is safe to machine wash on a gentle cycle and even tumble dry on low afterward.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 May 2025
-
The brand recommends washing the mat in cold water on the gentle cycle, and tumble drying it on a low speed or laying it flat to air dry.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Verb
-
Have the Yankees used that fifth inning for motivation or just flushed it?—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
-
Both teams have lineups flush with guys who can knock down the triple.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share