DEPLETE Synonyms: 120 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'deplete' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of deplete are bankrupt , drain , exhaust , and impoverish . While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function. // depleting our natural resources

Q: When is 'bankrupt' a more appropriate choice than 'deplete'?

Although the words bankrupt and deplete have much in common, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse. // war had bankrupted the nation of resources

Q: When is it sensible to use 'drain' instead of 'deplete'?

The synonyms drain and deplete are sometimes interchangeable, but drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence. // personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

Q: When can 'exhaust' be used instead of 'deplete'?

In some situations, the words exhaust and deplete are roughly equivalent. However, exhaust stresses a complete emptying. // her lecture exhausted the subject

Q: In what contexts can 'impoverish' take the place of 'deplete'?

While in some cases nearly identical to deplete , impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness. // impoverished soil

deplete

verb

di-ˈplēt

Definition of deplete next

as in to drain

to make complete use of miners depleted the vein of copper ore after only a few months

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reduce

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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deplete distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of deplete are bankrupt, drain, exhaust, and impoverish. While all these words mean "to deprive of something essential to existence or potency," deplete implies a reduction in number or quantity so as to endanger the ability to function.

depleting our natural resources

When is bankrupt a more appropriate choice than deplete?

Although the words bankrupt and deplete have much in common, bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse.

war had bankrupted the nation of resources

When is it sensible to use drain instead of deplete?

The synonyms drain and deplete are sometimes interchangeable, but drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence.

personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit

When can exhaust be used instead of deplete?

In some situations, the words exhaust and deplete are roughly equivalent. However, exhaust stresses a complete emptying.

her lecture exhausted the subject

In what contexts can impoverish take the place of deplete?

While in some cases nearly identical to deplete, impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness.

impoverished soil

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of deplete Meanwhile, sales are flat or sliding for many businesses because consumers are still coping with high prices and borrowing costs but have depleted their pandemic savings. —

Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2024 Some activists also fear the project could deplete scarce water resources and disturb Western Shoshone sacred sites, the Hill reports. —

Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 Russia’s economy has been constrained by depressed global prices for its key oil exports and by Western sanctions, which have restricted trade to deplete Moscow’s coffers for the war in Ukraine and contributed to declines in the ruble. —

Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 The big picture: Under current law, the trust fund is set to be depleted in 2034, triggering automatic benefit cuts absent Congressional action. —

Kelly Tyko, Axios, 22 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deplete

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplete

Verb

This approach is exhausting and drains the limited willpower we are meant to conserve.

Shane Enete, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
During testing, the charger’s battery was drained to half after just an hour of being plugged into a smartphone, and the phone itself was only powered to around 60 percent battery.

Camryn Rabideau, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024