siphoning

variants also syphoning
Definition of siphoningnext
present participle of siphon
1
2
as in funneling
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 siphoning Authorities announced the arrest Wednesday of a Long Island PTA mom accused of siphoning more than $50,000 from an elementary school over a three-year span while she was employed as a New York Police Department officer. Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2026 In New York, staged auto accidents, medical mills, and a lax threshold for awarding payouts are siphoning money from drivers, municipalities, and the MTA alike. Ike Brannon, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2026 Stefan Pildes, 50, is facing federal wire fraud charges that accuse him of siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars in charitable funds for his own use, including for concert tickets and vacations. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026 Shamefully, even as the Evanston parish was asking its members to dig deeper, Anderson was siphoning some of the church funds for his own personal needs. The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026 Meanwhile, Orbán began siphoning public contracts, largely financed by the European Union, into companies owned by loyalists. Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026 The concern about competing became amplified with regional sports networks dissolving, siphoning a source of revenue for a Rockies team that is already heavily dependent on attendance. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026 To be fair, at Kohl’s, Gass was forced into four battles with activist shareholders in her final years, siphoning her attention and energy. Phil Wahba, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2026 The only concern could be Hamilton syphoning support away from the league’s Toronto franchise. Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for siphoning
Verb
  • Shane Lowry has the distinction of draining one of the more memorable putts in recent golf history.
    Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Grow crocosmia in moist, organically rich, well-draining soil in full sun to light shade.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Gandi Mohamed later pled guilty to money laundering for funneling fraud proceeds.
    Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
  • To reduce reliance on maritime routes, China has over recent decades built costly pipelines funnelling oil and gas over land from Central Asia, Russia and Myanmar.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The painting, which shows Trump famously pumping his fist after surviving gunfire at a campaign rally, was installed in the White House State Floor in April 2025.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Ragans was pumping high velocity.
    Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The agency did not directly address whether the transition could affect service continuity, instead directing questions about services to the county, which will take over many programs.
    Teresa Liu, Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • This can be done by directing water into soil or gravel, and creating a slight slope or grade away from your home flat surfaces.
    Nishaa Sharma, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Chatting with the peddler Rutherford Selig (Bradley Stryker, enjoyably channeling Deadwood), Bynum casually unzips the surface of reality and dips into the waters below.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Mickey Moniak is channeling his inner Ted Williams, via his grandfather and his father.
    Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Notably, these shakedown attempts come more than 15 years after Michael’s death, thus carrying no risk of being sued for defamation.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026
  • Asia-to-Europe or intra-Asia trade lanes often go through the strait, and vessels carrying cargo from other apparel manufacturing countries including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Myanmar are likely using the passage.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Scientists are conducting studies to learn more about the potential risk to people who hunt or eat deer or elk meat, for example, by determining if they are diagnosed with prion diseases more often than people who do not.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar quickly responded on X, slamming his Ukrainian counterpart for conducting diplomacy on social media.
    Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The silken charcoal bathrobes are a decadent touch, as are the welcome torrents of piping water that rain from monsoon showers and the wonderful organic soaps.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Allow mixture to soften to piping consistency.
    Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 23 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Siphoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/siphoning. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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