NYT Dictionary

DEPLETE

/dɪˈplit/
Verbde-PLETEde-plete · 2 syllablesGrade 8

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2020, 2025

Meaning

To reduce the amount of; to remove (a substance from something)

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Borrowed from Latin dēplētus (“empty”), from depleō. First attested in 1716; originally a medical term.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

consumeeatexhaustuseexpendablateabsorbassimilateblowclean

Antonyms

enrichreplenish

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 1 recorded puzzle:

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