-depopulate-

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Depopulated p. pr. & vb. n. Depopulating ] [ L. depopulatus, p. p. of depopulari to ravage; de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus people: cf. OF. depopuler, F. dépeupler. See People. ] To deprive of inhabitants, whether by death or by expulsion; to reduce greatly the populousness of; to dispeople; to unpeople. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where is this viper,
That would depopulate the city? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is not synonymous with laying waste or destroying, being limited to the loss of inhabitants; as, an army or a famine may depopulate a country. It rarely expresses an entire loss of inhabitants, but often a great diminution of their numbers; as, the deluge depopulated the earth. [ 1913 Webster ]