1. to reduce or eliminate the population of a place; to cause people to leave or die in large numbers
Usage: formal; often used in historical or political contexts

Examples

• The plague depeoples entire villages across Europe.
• War and famine depeoples the region year after year.
• Forced migration depeoples the countryside as people move to cities.
• The disease depeoples the island within months.
• Economic collapse depeoples rural areas as residents seek opportunities elsewhere.