as in drained
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1
as in exhausted
to make complete use of
miners depleted the vein of copper ore after only a few months
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduced
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
disease and battlefield casualties had depleted troop strength to dangerously low levels
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Recent Examples of depleted
Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The department’s depleted police ranks had dropped from 920 officers in 2019 to an abysmal 560 in 2024.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026
That’s important because if glycogen levels become depleted, then the brain and body go into survival mode.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Throughout that autumn and winter, and even as late as 1922, Proust repeatedly compared his own depleted physical condition to that of the Irish republican martyr.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
This can also lead to exhaustion and burnout with depleted energy, distracting you from your goals.
—Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Soils in our climate are one big, depleted compost pile.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Jan. 2026
Trading Seager, who’s not getting any younger, and the front half of the rotation would restock the Rangers’ depleted farm system and give them something to build upon going forward.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Here, the Seahawks seized upon the 49ers’ depleted defense, with Fred Warner watching in sweats from the sideline rather than being rushed back from ankle surgery three months ago.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The debate over Social Security is dominated by its shrinking trust fund, which is expected to be depleted in seven years.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
They were listed in 2015 as critically endangered IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species but critically depleted as of 2023, and considered the world's rarest ape and primate by the ZSL.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The Canadians are a game behind after their tournament opener against Finland was postponed after the Finnish roster was depleted by a stomach virus.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Christopher Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images The office's ranks were depleted even before Operation Metro Surge.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Fitness issues for Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto, as well as Estevao being freshly back from compassionate leave, left Rosenior with his orthodox wing options severely depleted.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
As the stockpile of surplus nets in the Netherlands and Denmark is depleted, Pot is looking elsewhere to keep the pipeline going.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
The prior pattern of dismissals had depleted the credibility stock below the threshold where policy shifts alone could restore confidence.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Heavy industrial water use—such as by data centers—should be throttled through taxation to fund desalinated water for refilling depleted aquifers.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
The department’s depleted police ranks had dropped from 920 officers in 2019 to an abysmal 560 in 2024.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026
That’s important because if glycogen levels become depleted, then the brain and body go into survival mode.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Throughout that autumn and winter, and even as late as 1922, Proust repeatedly compared his own depleted physical condition to that of the Irish republican martyr.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
This can also lead to exhaustion and burnout with depleted energy, distracting you from your goals.
—Vicki Salemi, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Soils in our climate are one big, depleted compost pile.
—Calvin Finch, San Antonio Express-News, 30 Jan. 2026
Trading Seager, who’s not getting any younger, and the front half of the rotation would restock the Rangers’ depleted farm system and give them something to build upon going forward.
—Kevin Sherrington, Dallas Morning News, 29 Jan. 2026
Here, the Seahawks seized upon the 49ers’ depleted defense, with Fred Warner watching in sweats from the sideline rather than being rushed back from ankle surgery three months ago.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
With its dynamic freshman depleted from flu and another starter, Chad Baker-Mazara, still out due to injury, USC struggled to find a consistent source of offense.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The debate over Social Security is dominated by its shrinking trust fund, which is expected to be depleted in seven years.
—Kathryn Anne Edwards, Twin Cities, 17 Feb. 2026
They were listed in 2015 as critically endangered IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species but critically depleted as of 2023, and considered the world's rarest ape and primate by the ZSL.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
The Canadians are a game behind after their tournament opener against Finland was postponed after the Finnish roster was depleted by a stomach virus.
—John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Christopher Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Images The office's ranks were depleted even before Operation Metro Surge.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Fitness issues for Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto, as well as Estevao being freshly back from compassionate leave, left Rosenior with his orthodox wing options severely depleted.
—Cerys Jones, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
As the stockpile of surplus nets in the Netherlands and Denmark is depleted, Pot is looking elsewhere to keep the pipeline going.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
The prior pattern of dismissals had depleted the credibility stock below the threshold where policy shifts alone could restore confidence.
—Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depleted
Adjective
-
Increase heat to medium, add drained pasta; cook, stirring constantly, until a creamy sauce forms and clings to pasta, about 2 minutes.—
Elizabeth Mervosh,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
What starts as small talk always ends up in heated debates that leave me feeling drained and resentful.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Klæbo acknowledged that some of his race-winning efforts exhausted him, including one that left him holed up in his hotel room playing video games the day afterward.—
Nathaniel Herz,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2026
-
At the Lake Norman practice, the surgeries offered hope to patients who’d exhausted nonsurgical weight loss options.—
Amber Gaudet
Updated February 20,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As Russia reduced flows, prices spiked, pushing up energy bills and helping fuel a cost of living crisis.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Ultimately, the report states, about 1% of the district’s more than 83,000 employees are likely to lose a job or have their pay reduced.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Love may be in the air this Valentine’s Day, but Berlin had better get ready to be consumed by Lust.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Ogden consumed Newell’s videos like candy.—
Bill Donahue,
Outside,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In its 2025 report, Lazard, a financial advisory firm, estimated that the cost to build, operate, fuel and maintain a plant has decreased by 55% for wind and 84% for solar since 2009.—
Suhail Bhat,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Over the past few years, profits have decreased.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
With this enfeebled mind my only recourse is poetry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Chargers guards and center Bradley Bozeman, a trio whose job was made more difficult by subpar play by both offensive tackles, looked enfeebled against Indianapolis Colt tackle DeForest Buckner.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Scottish painter Gordon Coutts built villa Dar Marroc in 1924, using his time spent in the bohemian seaside city of Tangier as inspiration for both the design and the ethos of his new Palm Springs home.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Sky and his wife spent the day sharing their thoughts with reporters from CNN and CBS News, the BBC and NBC.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In more severe cases of hair loss, a doctor might prescribe oral minoxidil, which is generally absorbed better by the body but also typically comes with more side effects.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The automaker absorbed roughly $2 billion in losses tied to fires at a Novelis aluminum supplier plant in New York.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depleted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depleted. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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