Find Synonyms

runoff Synonyms

Another word for runoff

Choosing another word for runoff depends on context, so the synonyms and similar words below are separated across 2 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
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• noun (Context 1)

The draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building, or a structure.

Usage Example

"Heavy agricultural drainage containing excess fertilizers polluted the nearby river."

Strong
drainage
overflow
outflow
effluent
discharge

• noun (Context 2)

A further competition, election, race, or other contest held after a tie or inconclusive result in order to determine a clear winner.

Usage Example

"Because no candidate secured an outright majority in the first round, the two top contenders advanced to a December tiebreaker."

Strong
tiebreaker
playoff
decider
Weak
rematch

Opposites of runoff

The opposite of runoff shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:

absorption
infiltration
retention
primary
preliminary
See all opposites of runoff

• Nearby Words

runniness
running
runny
runoff
runt
runthrough
runtime

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Runoff. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/runoff
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