as in to head
to cut off the head of a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decapitate Didn’t Gallieni also allow Captain Girard to massacre the entire village of Ambiky on August 29, 1897, and decapitate King Toera of the Sakalavas, who had put up a great resistance against the French colonial advance? Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025 People with hands tied behind their backs, mothers holding their small children, bodies decapitated. Jennifer Griffin, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025 This led to the investigation of Gein’s farm that unearthed his atrocities, including Worden’s body being decapitated, flayed, and hung in his shed. Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 4 Oct. 2025 This didn’t sit well with Meg, who realized that Ernie was just as bad as her own father — possibly even worse — and proceeded to decapitate him, leaving his headless body to run around the front yard for a few seconds before finally slumping over. Andy Swift, TVLine, 2 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decapitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitate
Verb
  • After the death of his addict father, Ethan heads back to see if there’s any money to be made from selling his home, intending to stay, only briefly, with his aunt Sarah, Metcalf’s character, a Brunhilde of the high prairie.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
  • After their dinner at Kkanbu Chicken, the three leaders headed to Nvidia’s GeForce Gamer Festival, where Huang – flanked by Lee and Chung – promised to make a big announcement at the APEC summit on Friday.
    Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Later, Ciri watches helplessly as Bonhart beheads her.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Around the same time, a statue of Columbus in a park bearing his name in Boston was beheaded in the dead of night.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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