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Definition of deplete

deplete

/dɪˈpliːt/
de · plete
Adjective:depletable
•
Past Simple:depleted
•
Past Participle:depleted
•
Present Participle:depleting
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deplete Lexical Profile

deplete Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To use up the supply or resources of something, or to severely diminish its quantity or number.

Example

"Years of intensive agricultural farming without crop rotation can rapidly deplete the soil of essential nutrients."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for deplete

• Nearby Words

deplane
deplatform
depletable
deplete
depletion
deplorable
deplorably

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 17th century from Latin depletus, the past participle of deplere ('to empty' or 'to draw off'), formed from the prefix de- ('away') and plere ('to fill'). It originally appeared in medical contexts referring to the therapeutic draining of bodily fluids such as blood.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Deplete. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/deplete
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