1
as in consumes
to make complete use of
miners depleted the vein of copper ore after only a few months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reduces
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
disease and battlefield casualties had depleted troop strength to dangerously low levels
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 depletes
Russia also hopes the war pulls attention away from Ukraine and depletes Western arsenals.
—
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Mar. 2026
His exit further depletes resources in the specialty.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
That depletes your carb stores prematurely, leaving you unable to accelerate and more likely to bonk.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
The standard American diet, enriched with ultraprocessed foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt and low in nutrients and fiber, depletes microbiome diversity within days.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 18 Feb. 2026
Mexican long-nosed bats are migrating farther north than ever, expanding into Arizona and New Mexico as drought depletes agave supplies in their traditional habitat.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Neglecting to flush orchid salts can result in a crusty residue on the medium, which damages roots and depletes water.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026
The degenerative and incurable disease, which also is known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, depletes and destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually causing paralysis.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Literally paying their tax bills is going to drain corporate bank accounts, which further depletes bank reserves from the system.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 8 Mar. 2026
His exit further depletes resources in the specialty.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
That depletes your carb stores prematurely, leaving you unable to accelerate and more likely to bonk.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 5 Mar. 2026
The standard American diet, enriched with ultraprocessed foods that are high in sugar, fat and salt and low in nutrients and fiber, depletes microbiome diversity within days.
—Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 18 Feb. 2026
Mexican long-nosed bats are migrating farther north than ever, expanding into Arizona and New Mexico as drought depletes agave supplies in their traditional habitat.
—Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Neglecting to flush orchid salts can result in a crusty residue on the medium, which damages roots and depletes water.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026
The degenerative and incurable disease, which also is known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, depletes and destroys the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually causing paralysis.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Literally paying their tax bills is going to drain corporate bank accounts, which further depletes bank reserves from the system.
—Kelly Evans, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depletes
Verb
-
Plug-in solar generates electricity rather than consumes it.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Solving this peculiar whodunit is anything but predictable, and the case consumes seasoned detective Homer (Richard Jenkins) as well as young crimes officer Jodie (Joy Sunday).—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Recycling sports equipment not only keeps it out of landfills, but reduces the need for new equipment to be manufactured, Clarkin said.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Being up to date on taxes reduces the amount of penalties and interest that builds from waiting.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pack drains a 3 and is up to 19 points, and Texas is on the verge of tumbling to the 10th seed in the SEC Tournament and back onto the NCAA bubble.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Choose a commercial seed-starting mix that is loose and drains well.—
Holly McNamara,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
All the Little Animals is a small movie about a young man (Bale) with brain damage suffered in a car accident who comes across a gentle older man (John Hurt) who spends his days burying animals killed on the side of the road.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The user, in turn, spends more time with the chatbot in a bubble.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Some said Adebayo’s night diminishes sports history.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays such a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives before closing schools.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
But freedom of expression is a constant pursuit, as natural as breathing, and silencing it is an imperfect practice that exhausts the oppressor and energizes the oppressed.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Absorption Issues High magnesium doses can affect how well your body absorbs other medications.—
Kirstyn Hill,
Health,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The calorie count listed on David protein bars, Rahal added, is based on a calculation of just the calories the body absorbs.—
Natalie Bennett,
NBC news,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depletes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depletes. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
