deplete

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deplete distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of deplete are bankrupt, drain, exhaust, and impoverish. While all these words 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

When is bankrupt a more appropriate choice than deplete?

Although the words bankrupt and deplete have much in common, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

When is it sensible to use drain instead of deplete?

The synonyms drain and deplete are sometimes interchangeable, but drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

When can exhaust be used instead of deplete?

In some situations, the words exhaust and deplete are roughly equivalent. However, exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

In what contexts can impoverish take the place of deplete?

While in some cases nearly identical to deplete, impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

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 deplete This film marries the two, as modern macro economics lead people to abandon fertile lands in search of work in urban cities, depleting the white storks’ natural food supply as farms become landfills. Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 Sep. 2025 It was followed by the Montreal Protocol in 1987, a treaty that saw participating countries phase out the production of substances responsible for depleting the ozone layer. New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025 In June 2025, Paige and Shawn Fowler launched a GoFundMe campaign to support their sister's memory care, as her savings from disability and Social Security benefits were depleted. Marcus K. Dowling, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025 Back on the Zombie Stocks List Unprofitable companies with fast-depleting cash reserves are risky investments in any market. David Trainer, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deplete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplete
Verb
  • Hand sinks in kitchen not draining properly.
    Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Advertisement Between 1980 and 1988, as the war with Iraq drained the national budget, only a handful of dams were under construction.
    Nik Kowsar, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • To reduce the risk of mosquito bites and West Nile virus, health officials recommend using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves and long pants when outdoors, especially during peak mosquito activity at dawn and dusk.
    Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Autos Are an Economic Anchor China’s bold move into electric vehicles began in 2009 as a top-down policy to compete with foreign automakers, cut air pollution and reduce oil imports.
    Rebecca A. Fannin, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Republicans have opposed public funding for meals consumed by students whose families can afford to pay for the food.
    Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Odell emphasized that the structure of Studio DRBZ was well suited to the way content is created and consumed in the social media age.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sesame oil is high in antioxidants that may help decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease, along with reducing joint pain related to arthritis.
    Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • That year, the board hired Pat Gelsinger, an engineer who had spent 30 years at Intel before leaving it for other companies and eventually running VMware.
    Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Elordi spent up to 10 hours per session in the makeup chair and worked 18-hour days in full prosthetics.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Given how many comebacks the Pacers had in the playoffs, there is some evidence that all that pressure (plus a relentless offensive pace) exhausts teams over 48 minutes.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Dassey, now 35, has exhausted his appeal efforts.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • By binding to cholesterol in the small intestine, cholesterol is not absorbed into the bloodstream and is instead excreted from the body.
    Jennifer Moll, Verywell Health, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Shutdowns can delay contracts, squeeze liquidity, and reveal how unprepared many companies are to absorb shocks, Gainer said.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Jayhawks could have let Walker score, but didn’t, and instead burned their second timeout on defense with 32 seconds left.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The wildfire has been burning on state land for less than an hour.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplete. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on deplete

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