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
Seizing the island would deal a major blow to Tehran's economy, undercutting one of its most critical revenue streams and decapitating its key means of waging economic warfare.
—
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
But, thus far, decapitating the regime has succeeded only in replacing one Ayatollah Khamenei with another.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Chris Boccia, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
But, thus far, decapitating the regime has succeeded only in replacing one Ayatollah Khamenei with another.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitating
Verb
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Before this, Lodi Fire was only able to provide basic life support, which included basic EMS, CPR and other life-saving measures before heading to the emergency room.—
Carmela Karcher,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
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Howell initially drove north on the parkway’s northbound lanes before reversing course and heading in the wrong direction, causing the crash, according to reports.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
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