as in heading
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 decapitating
After June 2025, when Israel (for 12 days) and the United States (for one) launched strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and decapitating the IRGC leadership, Khamenei curtailed public appearances.
—
Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Mexico has taken a drug lord off the field, only to discover in short time that decapitating a cartel’s leadership doesn’t automatically translate into the organization’s collapse.
—Daniel Depetris, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Mexico has taken a drug lord off the field, only to discover in short time that decapitating a cartel’s leadership doesn’t automatically translate into the organization’s collapse.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
At trial, a jury found the parents guilty of stabbing and decapitating the children.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Alyssa Lira Orange County District Attorney's Office Lira is accused of killing and decapitating Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal, her boyfriend of two months, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
The problem is that the effort has succeeded only in decapitating the Maduro government and instilling fear among Venezuelans of future instability.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
His lover died in shock and horror that Regis was capable of such violence, and a vampire hunter did the rest of the work by staking, decapitating, and burying him next to Bethané’s corpse.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Winnecke is accused of killing and decapitating his father.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2025
Karl Vick, Time, 28 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Mexico has taken a drug lord off the field, only to discover in short time that decapitating a cartel’s leadership doesn’t automatically translate into the organization’s collapse.
—Daniel Depetris, Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Mexico has taken a drug lord off the field, only to discover in short time that decapitating a cartel’s leadership doesn’t automatically translate into the organization’s collapse.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026
At trial, a jury found the parents guilty of stabbing and decapitating the children.
—Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Alyssa Lira Orange County District Attorney's Office Lira is accused of killing and decapitating Enrique Gonzalez-Carbajal, her boyfriend of two months, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2026
The problem is that the effort has succeeded only in decapitating the Maduro government and instilling fear among Venezuelans of future instability.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
His lover died in shock and horror that Regis was capable of such violence, and a vampire hunter did the rest of the work by staking, decapitating, and burying him next to Bethané’s corpse.
—Scott Meslow, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025
Winnecke is accused of killing and decapitating his father.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitating
Verb
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The stint at left-back may be temporary, and an attempt to cover up squad deficiencies, but the school of thought at Everton heading into the campaign was that last season’s Branthwaite and Tarkowski partnership was their best way forward.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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The crowd is a mix of business travelers, wedding guests, Smithsonian tourists and happy hour revelers heading to the rooftop to take in what has to be the city's best vista.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Preparing whole fish usually entails deboning, scaling, gutting, and beheading the sea creature, a task for you—or your fishmonger.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
12 Jan. 2026
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On subsequent songs, Ninajirachi sings about the destruction of her innocence through sexting, and the trauma of coming across a beheading video.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decapitating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitating. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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