depleted; depleting; depletes
1
: to empty of a principal substance
The lake was depleted of water.
depleting the country of its natural resources
2
: to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value
deplete our life savings
their depleted resources
Did you know?
The de- prefix often means "do the opposite of", so deplete means the opposite of "fill". Thus, for example, a kitchen's food supplies can be rapidly depleted by hungry teenagers. But deplete often suggests something more serious. Desertions can deplete an army; layoffs can deplete an office staff; and too much time in bed can rapidly deplete your muscular strength.
Examples of deplete in a Sentence
Activities such as logging and mining deplete our natural resources.
We completely depleted our life savings when we bought our new house.
Recent Examples on the Web
After three years of relentless conflict, the nation is depleted, and its people's reserves have been stretched to the limit.
—
Katya Soldak, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
As the world deliberates on three years of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation is depleted, yet persistently determined to end the conflict on terms that will allow its future generations to live in peace.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
After years of drought that severely depleted the state's water reserves, California has seen back-to-back years of above-average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada in 2023 and 2024.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Critics say the program would deplete enrollment in public schools and divert money from those schools.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deplete
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Katya Soldak, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
As the world deliberates on three years of Russia’s assault on Ukraine, the Ukrainian nation is depleted, yet persistently determined to end the conflict on terms that will allow its future generations to live in peace.
—Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 22 Feb. 2025
After years of drought that severely depleted the state's water reserves, California has seen back-to-back years of above-average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada in 2023 and 2024.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 20 Feb. 2025
Critics say the program would deplete enrollment in public schools and divert money from those schools.
—Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi, Axios, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deplete
Cite this Entry
“Deplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deplete. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
deplete
verb
de·plete
di-ˈplēt 
depleted; depleting
: to reduce in amount by using up : exhaust especially of strength or resources
soil depleted of minerals
a depleted treasury
Medical Definition
deplete
transitive verb
de·plete
di-ˈplēt
depleted; depleting
: to empty (as the blood vessels) of a principal substance
a body depleted by excessive blood loss
tissues depleted of vitamins
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