Synonyms for

Leach

Verb / li:tʃ / Another word for leach — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to dissolve and carry away

Synonyms & similar words

percolate leaching strip dissolve drain deplete empty exhaust sap weaken erode filter percolate purify strain cleanse extract remove seep soak sift wash decontaminate

Synonyms by register

Formal

percolate filter dissolve extract

Informal

drain wash out seep out

Literary

exude ooze

Antonyms

absorb retain hold keep soak up imbibe

Common collocations

  • leach out of
  • leach into
  • leach away
  • leach soil
  • leach nutrients
  • leach contaminants
  • leach minerals

Word family

noun leachate
verb leach

Usage note

Primarily used in scientific or environmental contexts to describe the process of soluble substances being dissolved and carried away by water or other liquids. Can also be used metaphorically to describe the gradual loss of something valuable.

Example sentences

  1. The chemicals from the landfill can leach into the water supply.
  2. The coffee grounds will leach their flavor into the water.
  3. The fertilizer will leach into the soil and help the plants grow.
  4. The salt will leach out of the fish as it cooks.
  5. The acid rain can leach the nutrients from the leaves of the trees.

Quotes

  • The colors of a rainbow so pretty in the sky, are the colors of the rainbow that go leaching by.
  • Like a leach on a sore, so do evil-minded friends wound the heart.
  • Mental fight means thinking against the current, not with it. It is our business to puncture gas bags and discover the seeds of truth.

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