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 team found a strong and consistent depletion of heavy isotopes across all three elements.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
Advertisement This depletion of humanitarian capacity means that should the security situation deteriorate, or additional displacement occur, organizations are ill-equipped to meet needs.
—Ciaran Donnelly, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Inebilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets CD19, an antigen found only on the surface of the immune system's B cells, in a process called B cell depletion.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
To prevent nutrient depletion, fertilize in early spring and every few weeks through the growing season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
One of the largest agricultural water users in southeastern Arizona has agreed to pay neighbors affected by overpumping and aquifer depletion and to take 2,000 acres of farmland out of production.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Before long the guano was exhausted, and soil depletion doomed the commercial farms.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
The Black Lake sturgeon fishing season was canceled for the first time ever in 2024 due to marginal ice conditions and depletion of ice on Black Lake.
—Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 5 Jan. 2026
My hope is that Meadow not only remembers the tall ocean waves knocking us down to laughter, or the incredible sounds of the island drums, but also the feeling that her mama enjoys her company, slowing down with her, and showing her the world from a space of fullness and not depletion.
—Kareema Bee, Parents, 31 Dec. 2025
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
Advertisement This depletion of humanitarian capacity means that should the security situation deteriorate, or additional displacement occur, organizations are ill-equipped to meet needs.
—Ciaran Donnelly, Time, 11 Jan. 2026
Inebilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets CD19, an antigen found only on the surface of the immune system's B cells, in a process called B cell depletion.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
To prevent nutrient depletion, fertilize in early spring and every few weeks through the growing season.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Jan. 2026
One of the largest agricultural water users in southeastern Arizona has agreed to pay neighbors affected by overpumping and aquifer depletion and to take 2,000 acres of farmland out of production.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Before long the guano was exhausted, and soil depletion doomed the commercial farms.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
The Black Lake sturgeon fishing season was canceled for the first time ever in 2024 due to marginal ice conditions and depletion of ice on Black Lake.
—Tanya Wildt, Freep.com, 5 Jan. 2026
My hope is that Meadow not only remembers the tall ocean waves knocking us down to laughter, or the incredible sounds of the island drums, but also the feeling that her mama enjoys her company, slowing down with her, and showing her the world from a space of fullness and not depletion.
—Kareema Bee, Parents, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depletion
Noun
-
Johnson, who has been in office since May 2023, said homicides were down 30% last year and there was also a 34% decrease in drug overdoses.—
Tony Dokoupil,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
-
The agency, which patrols unincorporated areas of the county, investigated 18 homicide deaths in 2025 after ending the previous year with 37 homicides — a 54% decrease.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The company strips out nonessential systems and designs each component around mass reduction.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
-
On Wednesday, city leaders said the strategy has driven the recent crime reduction.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The report describes a kind of doom loop of AI dependence, where students increasingly off-load their own thinking onto the technology, leading to the kind of cognitive decline or atrophy more commonly associated with aging brains.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The 11 citations represents a sharp decline from just months earlier.—
Mathew Miranda
January 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Ottawa was in Denver to play Kelly and the Avalanche last week when, shortly before puck drop, the club released a statement from general manager Steve Staios condemning rumors that were spreading like wildfire across the internet about his team.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
16 Jan. 2026
-
To remove rust, sprinkle a bit of Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda over the affected area, add a drop of water to create a paste, and gently scrub with a soft sponge.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Those two losses were part of a disappointing 1-3-1 homestand that put a dent in their previous home-ice dominance and put them in arrears in their chase for a playoff spot.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Even at the presidential level – where personal legacy should, in theory, be most sensitive – scandals barely leave a dent.—
Brandon Rottinghaus,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depletion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depletion. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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