What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
deplete
Example
The company's profits were depleted after a year of poor sales. [depleted: past participle]
Example
The marathon runner's energy was depleted by the end of the race. [depleted: verb]
diminish
Example
The sound of the music gradually diminished as we walked away from the concert. [diminished: past tense]
Example
The scandal caused the politician's reputation to diminish among voters. [diminish: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Diminish is more commonly used than deplete in everyday language. Diminish is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while deplete is less common and often used in scientific or technical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between deplete and diminish?
Both deplete and diminish are formal words that are appropriate for use in academic or professional writing. However, deplete may be considered more technical and specialized than diminish.
