1
as in draining
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 reducing
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
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Recent Examples of depleting
Arizona’s cities have been shielded from existing cuts for three years by agreements with tribes and through compensation from fast-depleting pools of federal money.
—
Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The agency warned that depleting the reserve could cripple the Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) program, which provides emergency food assistance after natural disasters.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This imbalance—funding Putin’s war by depleting other sectors—has fueled inflation, worsened by ruble depreciation and import costs.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Rasmus Ristolainen is out for at least the first month, while Cam York is now on injured reserve, too, further depleting the blue line for the first week of the season and maybe longer.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Even those who like parts of his agenda have been stumped about how to talk him out of the stuff that terrifies them — whiplash tariffs and a labor-depleting immigration crackdown.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
In addition, holiday shopping began as early as July for some consumers, who were looking to avoid higher prices and shortages on retail shelves later in the year, inevitably depleting the sales tally for the traditional November through December holiday period.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Crop rotation is also important to avoid depleting the soil of nutrients by growing the same crops in the same spot over and over again.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Ocean acidification can have profound impacts on marine ecosystems by depleting seawater of certain carbon compounds that corals and other shell building animals need to construct their protective homes.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2025
Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
The agency warned that depleting the reserve could cripple the Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) program, which provides emergency food assistance after natural disasters.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
This imbalance—funding Putin’s war by depleting other sectors—has fueled inflation, worsened by ruble depreciation and import costs.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 15 Oct. 2025
Rasmus Ristolainen is out for at least the first month, while Cam York is now on injured reserve, too, further depleting the blue line for the first week of the season and maybe longer.
—Kevin Kurz, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Even those who like parts of his agenda have been stumped about how to talk him out of the stuff that terrifies them — whiplash tariffs and a labor-depleting immigration crackdown.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2025
In addition, holiday shopping began as early as July for some consumers, who were looking to avoid higher prices and shortages on retail shelves later in the year, inevitably depleting the sales tally for the traditional November through December holiday period.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Crop rotation is also important to avoid depleting the soil of nutrients by growing the same crops in the same spot over and over again.
—Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Oct. 2025
Ocean acidification can have profound impacts on marine ecosystems by depleting seawater of certain carbon compounds that corals and other shell building animals need to construct their protective homes.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depleting
Verb
-
Indoor poinsettias should be repotted out of poorly draining pots as soon as possible, while outdoor plants should only be transplanted outside when temperatures are above 50°F.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Add a base layer of well-draining potting mix to the bottom of the new pot, about a few inches deep.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Permeable pavers allow rainwater to soak into the ground, reducing flood risk, while offering an upscale look.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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People who aren't used to eating fiber-rich foods may experience bloating and gas after consuming fibrous foods.—
Jillian Kubala,
Health,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Might the show — with its army of all-knowing, obsequious entities consuming humanity — be a metaphor for the dangers of artificial intelligence?—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
For women, this meant decreasing intake to about 400 to 600 calories three days per week, while men reduced calories to around 500 to 700.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
-
An expensive habit with a decreasing ROI.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To be sure, the AI boom could deliver that revenue surge—but even slight weakening in spending growth across the industry could hit CoreWeave disproportionately.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
8 Nov. 2025
-
For example, financial therapist Aja Evans recommends leaning into self-care activities that cost little to no money, like going outside and spending time with family and friends.—
Gili Malinsky,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Jovanny Hernandez followed stories of immigration throughout the year, including Judge Hannah Dugan’s obstruction charges and Yessenia Ruano’s decision to return to El Salvador after exhausting options in Milwaukee.—
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel,
jsonline.com,
26 Dec. 2025
-
Nancy went out to work in the fields and took a job in a school cafeteria, exhausting herself to hold on to the children.—
Alex Abramovich,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Plant sterols and stanols block the body from absorbing cholesterol.—
Heather Jones,
Verywell Health,
8 Jan. 2026
-
What has emerged for now is a system that survived by adapting, absorbing pressure, and recalibrating external relationships while preserving its internal foundations.—
Sanam Vakil,
Time,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The prescribed fire has been burning on federal land managed by the United States Forest Service for four days.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The company built a retail and residential complex around the county’s Coconut Grove Metrorail station, and Martin also is pitching an incinerator site in western Miami-Dade as an alternative to the Levine Cava plan to rebuild the trash-burning facility in Doral.—
Douglas Hanks,
Miami Herald,
4 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Depleting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depleting. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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