as in headed
to cut off the head of
a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated
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Recent Examples of decapitated
Taylor was decapitated and her arms were severed from her torso, possibly in an attempt to hide her identity, according to court documents.
—
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
This was the most dramatic move in Xi’s campaign to reshape the military’s leadership, which has effectively decapitated the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Most notably, Israel decapitated Iran’s close ally Hezbollah in Lebanon in September–November, which in turn facilitated Ahmed al-Sharaa’s toppling of pro-Iran Syrian Pres.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
If Julie was being decapitated by hedge clippers, Shad was cueing her when to start screaming.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Israel has decapitated the Iranian proxy’s leadership and targeted its vast missile array.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The statue was decapitated in late 2022, though its head has since been reattached.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Her body was found in a duffel bag, nearly decapitated, police said.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
One day, Clark, who rides his recumbent bike into the city, is reporting on a cyclone when he nearly gets decapitated by a flying stop sign.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
This was the most dramatic move in Xi’s campaign to reshape the military’s leadership, which has effectively decapitated the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Most notably, Israel decapitated Iran’s close ally Hezbollah in Lebanon in September–November, which in turn facilitated Ahmed al-Sharaa’s toppling of pro-Iran Syrian Pres.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
If Julie was being decapitated by hedge clippers, Shad was cueing her when to start screaming.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Israel has decapitated the Iranian proxy’s leadership and targeted its vast missile array.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 13 Mar. 2026
The statue was decapitated in late 2022, though its head has since been reattached.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 6 Mar. 2026
Her body was found in a duffel bag, nearly decapitated, police said.
—Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026
One day, Clark, who rides his recumbent bike into the city, is reporting on a cyclone when he nearly gets decapitated by a flying stop sign.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitated
Verb
-
Caicedo made his first career start (and third appearance) and curled a low shot from the left side of the area that bounced off the far post in the 23rd minute and Müller headed home a cross played into the area by Sabbi in the 28th.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
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The pair left The Abaco Inn bar on Elbow Cay in their dinghy at dusk on April 4, headed to their anchored sailboat just off the cay's western coast.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Several of the women pleaded to be beheaded before the fire was lit and were granted this mercy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Many of the men were beheaded and women captured; Umar ibn Sa’d marched the spiked heads and shackled women through various towns on the way back to Caliph Yazid in Damascus to deter further protest.—
Mary Thurlkill,
The Conversation,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decapitated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitated. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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