as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
the kind of catastrophic illness that can make a sizable depletion in a family's savings
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Recent Examples of depletion
The state in recent months has begun nudging the river district and the eight groundwater districts within the basin to begin taking more concrete steps to slow the depletion.
—
Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
Hirano puts this premature end to the rover's mission as being down to either something becoming damaged on LEV-1 by its hopping motion, or by LEV-1's battery depletion, either way preventing data from being relayed back to Earth.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Even after trust fund depletion, the system will continue issuing benefits, albeit at reduced amounts.
—Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
According to most estimates, operational depletion could be reached in H2 2026.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Social Security is not going bankrupt, experts say, though benefits may be reduced when the program reaches the trust fund depletion date.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Morrison said the near-depletion of the unassigned fund balance is cause for alarm — and warned that the city’s spending problem will follow it into next year.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
At every stage, sensors and AI models assess nutrient depletion in real time, determining when fresh water needs to be introduced.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Thurlow argues that the gut microbiome shifts dramatically over the course of a woman's lifetime — peaking around age 40 — and that the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause accelerate microbial depletion in ways that affect immune function, metabolism, mood, cognition, and bone health.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
Hirano puts this premature end to the rover's mission as being down to either something becoming damaged on LEV-1 by its hopping motion, or by LEV-1's battery depletion, either way preventing data from being relayed back to Earth.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 June 2026
Even after trust fund depletion, the system will continue issuing benefits, albeit at reduced amounts.
—Fatima Hussein, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
According to most estimates, operational depletion could be reached in H2 2026.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Social Security is not going bankrupt, experts say, though benefits may be reduced when the program reaches the trust fund depletion date.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 9 June 2026
Morrison said the near-depletion of the unassigned fund balance is cause for alarm — and warned that the city’s spending problem will follow it into next year.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 June 2026
At every stage, sensors and AI models assess nutrient depletion in real time, determining when fresh water needs to be introduced.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Thurlow argues that the gut microbiome shifts dramatically over the course of a woman's lifetime — peaking around age 40 — and that the hormonal changes of perimenopause and menopause accelerate microbial depletion in ways that affect immune function, metabolism, mood, cognition, and bone health.
—Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depletion
Noun
-
In reaction to pay decreases and general concerns around the cost of living, SEIU Local 1000 has sought legislative and contract relief in the form of a 20% wage increase from 2026 to 2028.—
Evelyn Ronan,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
-
The dish detergent decreases while combining water and rubbing alcohol, leaving a streak-free shine.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
This is a crisis that cannot be ignored, especially with school-age children now in summer vacation, which means even further reductions in access to healthy foods.—
Michael Farver,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
Because these specific phases normally represent one-quarter of total cell manufacturing expenditures, their reduction alters the overall processing economics.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Tending to Barbara in her days of decline is her child, a trans man, who Barbara refers to as her daughter throughout.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
The decline suggests a blow to small businesses that can’t afford the fee, but previously benefited from the visa program.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Submissions for variety special (pre-recorded) tumbled to 66 from 89, a 23-title plunge that accounts for roughly half the year’s overall drop.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Combine 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, 10 drops of peppermint oil, and 10 drops of garlic extract in a spray bottle and shake well.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
One meteor that plunged into the sleepy British town of Winchcombe in 2021 — leaving a sizable dent in a family’s driveway — was found to have a D/H ratio that almost perfectly matched that of Earth’s oceans.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
The project is expected to make a major dent in CO2 emissions, or greenhouse gases.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depletion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depletion. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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