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 depletion of fossil fuels and the ripple effects of pollution, global warming, and overpopulation turned the world into an ugly place.
—
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
With the program facing looming trust fund depletion dates, Washington leaders will need to come together again to shore up the program’s funding — or risk imminent benefit cuts if the program can’t pay benefits as promised.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers first mandated the protection of the species in 1967, citing population depletion.
—Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, a JPMorgan analysis found the world is now moving from a problem centered on a shock to energy flows to one of stock depletion, which is likely to turn into supply scarcity for much of the world.
—Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Instead, the expert consensus showed how pollution and resource depletion are driven far more by extraction and overconsumption than by head count.
—Brian C. Keegan, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
An improved tool for recording battery life, charge depletion, and battery health tracking (also detailed below) is part of this equation.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Under spirited sprints around the Algarve region’s sinewy mountain roads, the range depletion wasn’t terrible, losing about 20 or 25 percent after 90 miles of pushing.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
The consequences of this project — ranging from water depletion and traffic congestion to permanent environmental degradation — will be borne by those in the immediate vicinity, yet the current system ignores this reality.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2026
Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Apr. 2026
With the program facing looming trust fund depletion dates, Washington leaders will need to come together again to shore up the program’s funding — or risk imminent benefit cuts if the program can’t pay benefits as promised.
—Lorie Konish, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers first mandated the protection of the species in 1967, citing population depletion.
—Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, a JPMorgan analysis found the world is now moving from a problem centered on a shock to energy flows to one of stock depletion, which is likely to turn into supply scarcity for much of the world.
—Chloé Farand, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Instead, the expert consensus showed how pollution and resource depletion are driven far more by extraction and overconsumption than by head count.
—Brian C. Keegan, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
An improved tool for recording battery life, charge depletion, and battery health tracking (also detailed below) is part of this equation.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Under spirited sprints around the Algarve region’s sinewy mountain roads, the range depletion wasn’t terrible, losing about 20 or 25 percent after 90 miles of pushing.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2026
The consequences of this project — ranging from water depletion and traffic congestion to permanent environmental degradation — will be borne by those in the immediate vicinity, yet the current system ignores this reality.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depletion
Noun
-
The 5% decrease in electric charges is set to go into effect in June, with no future adjustments to it planned.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Even a relatively small decrease to $4 a gallon could take one or two weeks, according to gas price tracking service GasBuddy.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The hotel has set waste and water reduction targets, including plastic and food waste prevention.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Pollution reduction, congestion reduction, improved safety, comfort, reliability.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, said prices at the pump could start dropping as soon as this weekend, although the decline could initially amount to only a few cents per gallon.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
While not endangered, American woodcocks have experienced a population decline in recent decades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The decibel scale is logarithmic, meaning every 10 dB drop roughly halves perceived loudness – so the gap between the P-12 Business and a conventional ferry isn't a marginal improvement.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 09,
New Atlas,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The first three months of the year saw disparate trends in violence within the Chicago Police Department’s five patrol areas, records show, with a mixed bag of increases and further drops.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Elevated prices could pinch consumer spending and dent business revenue, triggering a slowdown in economic growth, some analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
An effective vaccine could put a huge dent in the growing burden of Lyme disease.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depletion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depletion. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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