Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

deplete

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of deplete

1 to make complete use of
  • Miners depleted the vein of copper ore after only a few months.
Synonyms of deplete

absorb, burn, consume, devour, drain, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up
Words Related to deplete

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce

eat, use

bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish

cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken

dry up, empty

blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste
Phrases Synonymous with deplete

run out of
Near Antonyms of deplete

augment, enlarge, increase

bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen

rebuild, repair, restore, revive

conserve, preserve, save
Antonyms of deplete

renew, replace
2 to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
  • Drought depleted the water reserves.
Synonyms of deplete

abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce
Words Related to deplete

compress, condense, constrict, contract

abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle

deflate, shrink

minimize

moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
Near Antonyms of deplete

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

add (to), complement, supplement

enhance, heighten, intensify

redouble
Antonyms of deplete

aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise

Synonym Discussion of 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

Learn More about deplete

  1. See words that rhyme with deplete Dictionary: Definition of deplete Medical Dictionary: Definition of deplete Spanish Central: Translation of deplete Nglish: Translation of deplete for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of deplete for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up deplete? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games