[de.plete] vt de.plet.ed ; de.plet.ing [L depletus, pp. of deplere, fr. de- + plere to fill--more at full] (1807) 1: to empty of a principal substance
2: to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value -- de.plet.able adj -- de.ple.tion n -- de.ple.tive adj syn deplete, drain, exhaust, impoverish, bankrupt 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". drain implies a gradual withdrawal and ultimate deprivation of what is necessary to an existence "personal tragedy had drained him of all spirit". exhaust stresses a complete emptying "her lecture exhausted the subject". impoverish suggests a deprivation of something essential to richness or productiveness "impoverished soil". bankrupt suggests impoverishment to the point of imminent collapse "war had bankrupted the nation of resources".