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

as in to drain

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

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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

Example 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 In the last quarter-century, relentless drought intensified by climate change has sapped the river’s flow and left its reservoirs severely depleted. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 However, payment amounts could change unless Congress takes action to address the depleting fund. — Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026 Yet Kyiv’s stockpile has dried up as the United States husbands an arsenal that has been significantly depleted by the Iran war. — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026 According to the 2026 trustees’ report, those reserves will be depleted in 2033. — David McMillin,dan Avery, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deplete

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deplete

Verb

Allen drained it to extend Charlotte’s lead to 20, and then found Dennis Schröder for a high-five as Miami called a timeout.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026
In hopes of restoring the water's blue hue, park rangers partially drained Morning Glory in the 1970s to extract debris.

— Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of drain

Verb

Integrating the interceptor into existing launch infrastructure could reduce the need for extensive equipment changes.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
People can donate clean costumes and pick a new one, reducing waste and the resources and emissions required to make new ones.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

Telecom stocks — Shares of AT & T and T-Mobile fell more than 5% each, while Verizon shares decreased 1% on a Bloomberg News report that SpaceX is in private talks to lease 80,000 cell towers.

— Paulina Likos, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
As technology has advanced, launch costs have decreased, and satellites have become more efficient, smaller and cheaper to build.

— David Zamora, Space.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

Successful candidates will then be invited to spend a day at the bank’s offices where they are tested on banking regulation, their use of AI, and their ability to build calculations.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The Finnish Government has granted Posiva Oy an operating license for the world’s first permanent underground repository for spent nuclear fuel.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of spend

Verb

When all out-of-court options have been exhausted, and the MCA debt threatens the immediate survival of an otherwise viable business, legal reorganization is the final angle of management.

— Nathan Mor, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Like athletes in other pro leagues, NFL players must first exhaust out-of-court arbitration and grievance procedures.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of exhaust

Verb

And, like the Raptor engines that power another SpaceX launcher, the giant Starship, Clydesdale will burn liquid oxygen and liquid methane, a combo known as methalox.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Residents evacuated as officials decided three days later to blow open five rail cars and burn the vinyl chloride inside.

— ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of burn

Browse Nearby Words

deplaning

deplete

depleted

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“Deplete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deplete. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of deplete

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