decimated

adjective

dec·​i·​mat·​ed ˈde-sə-ˌmā-təd How to pronounce decimated (audio)
1
: drastically reduced especially in number
… the decimated population of Atlantic salmon that once gamboled in dozens of rivers in the northeastern United States …Pete Bodo
A denuded forest may one day regrow; the decimated culture that called it home sadly will not.Stephen Messenger
2
: destroyed or significantly harmed
… its dusty streets, scattered with burned out vehicles and flanked on either side by decimated buildings.Jay Akbar
Many workers may want to delay retirement to replenish decimated 401(k) portfolios …Emily Brandon
Can we take as governor a man who'd give $46 million in public money to a bottling lobby, instead of using it to salvage decimated public programs?David Nyhan
see also decimate

Examples of decimated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Victims on the road trip included the hapless Washington Wizards and former teammate Jordan Poole, a decimated New York Knicks squad and finally a 120-115 win over a Toronto team that has lost 37 games. Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Ukraine ordered the complete withdrawal from the decimated city of Avdiivka before dawn on Saturday, surrendering a position that had been a military stronghold for the better part of a decade, in the face of withering Russian assault. Constant Méheut, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024 Democratic lawmakers have called for Biden to prioritize the safety of Palestinians amid the conflict, which has killed thousands and decimated Gaza. Louis Casiano, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024 So while the spotlight might shine on Miami's offense against the Chiefs defense, such a matchup might turn based on how a decimated Dolphins D could handle Mahomes’ listing bunch. Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 And this was arguably the Heat’s worst loss of the season, considering the decimated competition. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Jan. 2024 Israeli forces clashed with Hamas militants across the Gaza Strip on Saturday, the Israeli military said, deepening its engagement in the decimated enclave even as the Palestinian death toll from relentless airstrikes in 12 weeks of war soared higher. Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2023 Humanitarian relief groups will probably be the only entities providing basic necessities in a decimated landscape that will require decades of rebuilding. Yasmine Salam, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2023 Those from decimated kibbutzim in southern Israel don’t have homes to return to. Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decimated.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decimated was in 1658

Dictionary Entries Near decimated

Cite this Entry

“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimated. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!