deplete

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“
When the building materials deplete, the beavers move on to another location.

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Definitions (6)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (2)

  1. transitive verb To decrease the fullness of; use up or empty out.
  2. Syntax Note
    Synonyms: deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, enervate
    These verbs all mean to weaken severely by removing something essential. Deplete refers to using up gradually and only hints at harmful consequences: The campers' food supply was quickly depleted.
    Drain suggests gradual drawing off and harm: War often drains a nation's economy.
    Exhaust stresses reduction to a point of uselessness: "The resources of civilization are not yet exhausted” (William Ewart Gladstone).
    Impoverish refers to severe reduction of resources or essential qualities: "His death has eclipsed the gaiety of nations, and impoverished the public stock of harmless pleasure” (Samuel Johnson).
    Enervate refers to weakening or destruction of vitality or strength: Idleness enervates the will to succeed.

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Examples (50)

  • Nor do the great sums lavished upon his favorites and children deplete, in any respect, his vast treasures, because they are all supported by grants of land, monopolies of market, special taxes, tithes, douceurs , and other patrimonial or tributary provisions. —  THE ENGLISH GOVERNESS AT THE SIAMESE COURT
  • Suzuki advises us that we cannot deplete or contaminate our natural resources faster than they can be replenished—otherwise we will be robbing our children of a healthy and productive future. —  ChallengingDestiny#25
  • While energy efficient grills and environmentally friendly packaging deplete GustOrganics 'funding, its prices manage to stay affordable. —  Columbia Spectator - News, sports, and entertainment coverage for the Morningside Heights community in New York City.
  • Since she has no lifebar or health to deplete, Sheena can act as the Moderators 'liaison to various games without fear of being hurt or killed. —  COMIXTALK
  • "You can't get your fleet deplete to the point where you have to get an enormous amount of buses all in one year," Cunningham said. —  The Times-Journal: News
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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

Used in the same contextWord Family

deplete:   depleted ·  depletes
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (2)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Latin dēplēre, dēplēt-, to empty : dē-, de- + plēre, to fill; see pelə-1 in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (1)

  1. from Latin depletus, past participle of deplere, empty, from de- privative + plere, fill, related to plenus, full, = English full: see full, plenty, etc. Cf. complete, replete.
 

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/dəˈplit/
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