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
The scientists found especially rapid groundwater losses in parts of northwestern and southeastern Arizona where large farms irrigate thirsty crops such as alfalfa, which is used to feed cattle locally and is also exported to countries such as China and Saudi Arabia.
—
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Technology and tradition can meet in harmony, irrigating the land without bleeding it dry, respecting both the old ways and the new.
—Sahit Muja, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
The Colorado River also irrigates some five million acres of land.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The initiative draws water from the L.A. River in downtown L.A., cleans it and uses it to irrigate Los Angeles State Historic Park.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025
Technology and tradition can meet in harmony, irrigating the land without bleeding it dry, respecting both the old ways and the new.
—Sahit Muja, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025
The Colorado River also irrigates some five million acres of land.
—John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
The initiative draws water from the L.A. River in downtown L.A., cleans it and uses it to irrigate Los Angeles State Historic Park.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for irrigate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irrigate
Verb
-
Blowing air and rinsing with water and alcohol, dropped it further to 87 particles per liter.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
5 July 2025
-
When the berries are done soaking, gently rinse them with water.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
Verb
-
Often problems arise from short-term pollution, which can happen during heavy rainfall that washes waste from sewage plants into the water.—
Katie Nadworny,
Travel + Leisure,
14 July 2025
-
The worker then pointed across the lot to Norman — who was washing someone’s car, tending to his summer job, minding his business.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
For the event, held inside the Four Seasons Hotel, Vergara flushed her cheeks with a color cross between a guava and a peach.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
3 July 2025
-
Tipp's reactions to new triggers included throat closing, tongue swelling, flushing, itching, vomiting, diarrhea, brain fog, bone pain, headaches and extreme stomach pain.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Irrigate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irrigate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share