deplete

verb

de·plete | \ di-ˈplēt

depleted; depleting

Definition of deplete

1 : to empty of a principal substance The lake was depleted of water. depleting the country of its natural resources

2 : to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value deplete our life savings their depleted resources

Other Words from deplete Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about deplete

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Other Words from deplete

depletable \ di-ˈplē-tə-bəl

\ adjective

depleter \ di-ˈplē-tər

\ noun

depletion \ di-ˈplē-shən

\ noun

depletive \ di-ˈplē-tiv

\ adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for deplete

deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt mean to deprive of something essential to existence or potency. deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. depleting our natural resources drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit exhaust stresses a complete emptying. her lecture exhausted the subject impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. impoverished soil bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Examples of deplete in a Sentence

Activities such as logging and mining deplete our natural resources. We completely depleted our life savings when we bought our new house.

Recent Examples on the Web

But since 2014, the state has had a law against depleting aquifers, and farmers soon won’t be able to take out more water than goes in. — Nathanael Johnson, WIRED, "Are Avocados Toast?," 24 May 2018 Spectacular multiple-car wrecks depleted the field and brought into question the frequent promotional claim that these 40 drivers are the very best on the planet. — Mike Hembree, USA TODAY, "Hembree: Daytona 500 lives up to billing with wild finish," 18 Feb. 2018 Stock was called up along with Kazuhisa Makita on Sunday to help fortify the Padres’ depleted bullpen. — Kevin Acee, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Padres notes: Margot back on top; Renfroe tumbles; Hedges returns," 24 June 2018 Holmes may have depleted her wealth in earlier settlements with jilted Theranos investors, leading to a reduced payment to the SEC. — Rebecca Robbins, STAT, "Sign up for our biotech newsletter, The Readout," 19 Mar. 2018 By the late 1970s, the population was so depleted that coyotes – which the bigger wolves naturally chased away or killed – began to settle in the same range. — Anchorage Daily News, "This distinctively American wolf may be going extinct in the wild – again," 5 Feb. 2018 If trends hold, smart machines—computers and robots equipped with artificial intelligence—will deplete the professional job market in the next decade as ruthlessly as automation and robots did the assembly lines in the 1980s. — Gabrielle Jonas, Newsweek, "Where Have All the Good Jobs Gone? Ask a Robot.," 30 Nov. 2014 There was concern that such a move early on could have caused undue public anxiety and triggered a rush of people who weren’t considered at risk to get inoculated, possibly depleting the vaccine supply. — Michael Smolens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "A new twist on San Diego's homeless-hepatitis nexus," 20 May 2018 The Army, its numbers depleted after World War I, wanted photos of sporting events for a new recruitment campaign. — Frank Fitzpatrick, Philly.com, "Bill Tilden and the fateful day that launched a legend | Frank's Place," 2 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'deplete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.