Definition of decapitatenext
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 After decapitating the body, Kennedy tied the head to the top of the family's minivan with a bungee cord, making for a less-than-pleasant five-hour drive back home to Mount Kisco, New York, according to her recollection. Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2026 Instead of throwing a ball around in the backyard, Sidious taught Maul how to decapitate his enemies. Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026 After at least two days, the child died, and Harrell Johnson decapitated her with hedge trimmers. Caroline Zimmerman may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026 The terrorist group has been largely decapitated and is unable to wage meaningful counter-warfare against Israel and its allies, but is believed to still boast significant caches of weaponry that could threaten the long-term peace of the future Palestine. Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for decapitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitate
Verb
  • Woodland played basketball one season at Washburn before heading to KU on golf scholarship.
    Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
  • However, some bitcoin and crypto traders are betting that some of the cash that has entered the system due to the SpaceX IPO could soon be heading toward bitcoin.
    Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Four Haitian women who were deported from the United States in February were found beheaded and dumped in a river several months later, lawyers said in court documents.
    Lindsay Whitehurst, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
  • His mother, who came from a somewhat shady family (her father had been part of a coin-forging group whose ringleaders were arrested and beheaded), helped run the inn; his sister was twelve years older.
    Clare Bucknell, Harpers Magazine, 23 June 2026

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“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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