deplete

verb

de·​plete di-ˈplēt 

depleted; depleting; depletes

transitive verb

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

depletable

di-ˈplē-tə-bəl 

adjective

depleter

di-ˈplē-tər 

noun

depletion

di-ˈplē-shən 

noun

depletive

di-ˈplē-tiv 

adjective

Did you know?

The de- prefix often means "do the opposite of", so deplete means the opposite of "fill". Thus, for example, a kitchen's food supplies can be rapidly depleted by hungry teenagers. But deplete often suggests something more serious. Desertions can deplete an army; layoffs can deplete an office staff; and too much time in bed can rapidly deplete your muscular strength.

Synonyms

• absorb
• burn
• consume
• devour
• drain
• draw down
• exhaust
• expend
• play out
• spend
• use up

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

As of late 2024, 90%+ of that is depleted, especially among lower-income groups. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

They were depleted along the defensive line last year and were terrible against the run in the home stretch of the season. —Matt Barrows, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025

Recipients were promised support through the end of the decade, but soaring rent costs have rapidly depleted funds. —Oumou Fofana, Essence, 22 Apr. 2025

As ongoing inflation continues to deplete household budgets, perhaps nowhere is the pinch felt more strongly than in grocery aisles. —Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin dēplētus, past participle of dēplēre "to drain, draw off, empty out," from dē- de- + plērē "to fill" — more at full entry 1

First Known Use

1807, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deplete

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

deplete

verb

de·​plete di-ˈplēt 

depleted; depleting

: to reduce in amount by using up : exhaust especially of strength or resources

soil depleted of minerals

a depleted treasury

depletion

-ˈplē-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

deplete

transitive verb

de·​plete di-ˈplēt 

depleted; depleting

: to empty (as the blood vessels) of a principal substance

a body depleted by excessive blood loss

tissues depleted of vitamins