1
as in draining
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 reducing
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 depleting
Beyond being expensive to maintain, the dams are destructive to rivers, blocking fish habitat while warming the water, depleting oxygen levels and trapping sediment upstream.
—
CBS News, 12 June 2026
Without congressional action, the fund is now expected to begin depleting by the fourth quarter of 2032, according to a report issued Tuesday by Social Security's trustees, the body that manages the trust fund.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Environmental advocates say the demand risks depleting both Lake Michigan and rural well water supplies.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Prominent Maryland policymakers have claimed — without evidence — that data centers are depleting resources and increasing costs.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
Some ran from the fog, quickly depleting their last reserves of oxygen, and started to gulp lungfuls of toxic air.
—Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
The International Energy Agency, in its latest monthly update, cautioned that oil inventories globally are depleting at a record pace as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 18 May 2026
On the topic of coin — Cannes is not cheap, and that’s not only due to depleting supplies of jet fuel and the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
This creates a new way to weaken an opponent over time by depleting supplies, reducing combat effectiveness, and forcing the abandonment of positions without committing large numbers of soldiers.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
CBS News, 12 June 2026
Without congressional action, the fund is now expected to begin depleting by the fourth quarter of 2032, according to a report issued Tuesday by Social Security's trustees, the body that manages the trust fund.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Environmental advocates say the demand risks depleting both Lake Michigan and rural well water supplies.
—Jack O'Connor, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Prominent Maryland policymakers have claimed — without evidence — that data centers are depleting resources and increasing costs.
—Ross Marchand, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
Some ran from the fog, quickly depleting their last reserves of oxygen, and started to gulp lungfuls of toxic air.
—Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
The International Energy Agency, in its latest monthly update, cautioned that oil inventories globally are depleting at a record pace as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.
—Justina Lee, CNBC, 18 May 2026
On the topic of coin — Cannes is not cheap, and that’s not only due to depleting supplies of jet fuel and the closed Strait of Hormuz.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
This creates a new way to weaken an opponent over time by depleting supplies, reducing combat effectiveness, and forcing the abandonment of positions without committing large numbers of soldiers.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depleting
Verb
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Other actions to reduce risk include avoiding exposure during peak feeding times at dusk and dawn, wearing long sleeves and pants to prevent mosquito bites, and draining standing water in yards and gardens to minimize breeding areas.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
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Water also was standing or draining so slowly as to seem to be standing at a prep sink and the mop sink.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
16 June 2026
Verb
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While it is known that close contact with others can increase the transmission of certain viruses, the study highlights in greater detail how improving classroom ventilation could have notable impacts in reducing transmission.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
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Eventually, this mine’s successful operation will substantially increase China’s domestic supply capacity, simultaneously reducing its reliance on imports from other countries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Because consuming too much sodium can be dangerous.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois,
Health,
7 July 2025
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Don, Gail and Heather were taken to the hospital and died within days after consuming the Beef Wellington served by Erin, which had been laced with the deadly mushroom at her Leongatha house in July 2023, PEOPLE previously reported.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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Steiger's presentation also highlighted how the district has taken measures to reduce spending, like cutting off purchasing cards and decreasing non-school spending.—
Austin Horn
June 11,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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With decreasing revenue from the gas tax and increasing costs, Behrens said that over the next decade, the state will face a $216 billion shortfall.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Roughly 20% to 30% of operating expenses will come from spending on agents versus humans in the next three to four years, according to a new report summarizing the views of C-suite leaders from consultancy Bain & Company.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
10 June 2026
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Cardholders also earn 2,500 bonus miles when spending $10,000 each calendar year.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The Spurs seemed emotionally spent after exhausting all of their energy in unseating the defending champions.—
Mark Medina,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
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Trapped by high interest rates and the cumulative weight of inflation, the bottom 80 percent of earners are aggressively pulling back on discretionary goods, exhausting credit options and downgrading to private-label and discount brands.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Today’s cutting-edge of automation isn’t replacing the whole human but absorbing their most mundane tasks.—
Sebastian Herrera,
Fortune,
11 June 2026
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The weaker bonds are dispersed throughout the material as cross-links known as mechanophores, and upon a sudden strike, those mechanophores selectively snap at the impact site, absorbing the impact energy more effectively.—
Shirl Leigh
June 10,
New Atlas,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Video shared by a witness from the scene showed emergency responders attempting to crack open the plane’s windshield as authorities and bystanders assisted several people out of the burning aircraft.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
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At the same time, that quote and Ruth’s attitude also implies that nothing can be done to extinguish the fire in the perpetually burning building.—
Jen Chaney,
Vulture,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depleting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depleting. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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