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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 With Moscow having its military stretched thin in Ukraine, and Iran’s air defenses laid bare after Israel had decapitated its proxy Hezbollah, both of these regional powers have lost significant leverage. Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 Earlier this year, authorities in Sinaloa state discovered 20 male bodies with gunshot wounds – including five that were decapitated – on a bridge over a federal highway. Mauricio Torres, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025 Winnecke is accused of killing and decapitating his father. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2025 The defendants allegedly agreed to commit the homicides for $15,000, and one defendant also offered to decapitate the victims and return their heads to the undercover agents for an additional $5,000. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 18 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decapitate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitate
Verb
  • The versatile, ultra-soft bottoms are made with a light and breathable material that’s ideal for running errands, heading to the gym, curling up on the couch; the list goes on.
    Melony Forcier, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Wait for 30 minutes after the final lightning or thunder before heading outside again.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • According to psychiatrist interviews conducted with his younger sister, Allyn, Kemper cut the hands off of her doll, beheaded and dismembered the family cat, and fantasized about executions and gas chambers.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • France has returned three skulls to Madagascar more than a century after they were taken, including one believed to be that of a 19th-century Malagasy king who was beheaded by French troops.
    Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decapitate

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!