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 But that burst also causes these microscopic marine algae to deplete other nutrients more rapidly, which then leads to a crash later in the season, according to the study. Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 2 June 2025 Again, the Norfolk Botanical Garden declined, arguing that separating the works would be unfavorable, and that depleting one cultural institution for another in the same city didn’t make sense. Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 The impact of the estate tax could deplete 40% of the assets subject to tax at her death. Priya Prakash Royal Esq. Ll.m. Mba Aep Tep, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025 The early colonists didn’t deplete this plentiful stock much, if at all. Benjamin Cassidy, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for deplete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplete
Verb
  • These unnecessary burdens slow them down, drain their energy, and keep them from reaching their next level.
    Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Reserve forward Obi Toppin helped swing the game, draining five 3s off the bench.
    Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Here are recommendations for maintaining safety during a thunderstorm: To reduce the chance of being struck by lightning, when venturing outside, have a plan to get to a safer area.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 June 2025
  • The website also says the industry has worked to reduce the use antimicrobials.
    John Bartlett, NPR, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • Endless arguments could consume tons of precious computing cycles.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • Recipes for everything from ceviche mixto with popcorn (!) to flan to sweet plantains are sure to delight, and the book’s chatty, convivial tone is likely to linger in your mind long after the meal has been consumed and the dreaded dinner dishes are done.
    Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 7 June 2025
Verb
  • The three main causes of hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 June 2025
  • Several people are still unaccounted for, but the number of missing people has slowly decreased, a San Antonio Fire Department spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE.
    Charna Flam, People.com, 14 June 2025
Verb
  • One-quarter of all U.S. consumers also plans to decrease spending or abstain from buying on Amazon Prime Day this summer, according to data from Akeneo.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 6 June 2025
  • The actor-writer-director, who is 31 and uses they/she pronouns, has spent the last decade or so as a niche internet presence, going viral periodically on Twitter (and then X) and TikTok with satirical front-facing videos and bone-dry one-liners.
    Rachel Brodsky, Rolling Stone, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • The visa expired in February 2023, but Soliman has not exhausted legal efforts to remain in the U.S., according to NBC.
    Dan Mangan, CNBC, 3 June 2025
  • The object could be a white dwarf—an Earth-sized husk that remains after a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Many like Scooch are absorbing costs to maintain delivery schedules and customer trust. TeeTurtle, which manufactures over 80% of its product line in China, chose not to cancel or delay orders despite the tight margins.
    Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 4 June 2025
  • Hair porosity influences how well hair absorbs water, oils, and hair care products.
    Sherri Gordon, Health, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • The pair, who met as college undergrads, both burned with idealism and recognized their privilege could be leveraged for a game-changing idea.
    Carole Horst, Variety, 13 Sep. 2023
  • The Ellen MacArthur Foundation promotes circular fashion and says that, in the United States, an amount of clothing equal to a garbage truck is ferried to landfills or burned every second.
    Neeti Mehra, Treehugger, 13 Sep. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Deplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplete. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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