as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the army's attack decimated the enemy's defenses beyond repair
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decimate
History offers a stark warning: In the mid-20th century, the once-dominant Gros Michel cultivar was decimated by Panama disease, forcing the global industry to switch almost exclusively to the Cavendish.
—
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The war has also decimated Gaza’s medical facilities and infrastructure and driven most of its population from their homes — often several times.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 5 May 2025
Scheffler, the World No. 1, decimated the CJ Cup Byron Nelson field to win by eight strokes at 31-under par.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 May 2025
The layoffs decimated the workforce that processes FOIA requests across FDA centers overseeing vaccines, drugs, tobacco, medical devices, and food, said current and former employees.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
The war has also decimated Gaza’s medical facilities and infrastructure and driven most of its population from their homes — often several times.
—Astha Rajvanshi, NBC news, 5 May 2025
Scheffler, the World No. 1, decimated the CJ Cup Byron Nelson field to win by eight strokes at 31-under par.
—Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 May 2025
The layoffs decimated the workforce that processes FOIA requests across FDA centers overseeing vaccines, drugs, tobacco, medical devices, and food, said current and former employees.
—Rachana Pradhan, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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An embarrassing, humbling, shocking Game 5 defeat showed that. All the same problems, the ones that destroyed Leaf team after Leaf team and ultimately ended Sheldon Keefe’s time as head coach, are emerging again at the worst possible time.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
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At least 144 structures were destroyed and parts of Highway 44 were shut down, said St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Verb
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Beyond the immediate dead, the refugees, destroyed agriculture, loss of economic capacity, all would utterly devastate China.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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Independent cinema—arguably the heart of artistic risk and innovation, would be devastated.—
Matt Robison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Sonos is very, very sorry for ruining your speaker system.—
Boone Ashworth,
Wired News,
9 May 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Daniella Segura,
Sacbee.com,
9 May 2025
Verb
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WIth Jarren Duran on first with a one-out single in the sixth, Devers demolished Lugo’s first pitch, a 91.8 mph four-seamer.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
11 May 2025
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If anything, Gunther should absolutely demolish the beloved McAfee as a way of getting back on the right foot following a surprise submission defeat to Jey Uso at WrestleMania 40.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2025
Verb
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Israel resumed its bombardment in Gaza on March 18, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2025
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O’Brien ranks 22nd in NCAA history in career caused turnovers with 160, which shatters Lacey Leigh Hentz’s previous school record of 146.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2025
Verb
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That predecessor was wrecked May 9, 1980, when a freighter, lost in the vicious storm, broadsided the southbound span of the twin bridge and knocked down a 1,260-foot section of roadway.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2025
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However, according to the World Bank, the economy was already the best before Trump’s economic policies wrecked it.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2025
Verb
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The crash came a little over a year after the Dali, a 984-foot-long cargo ship, lost power while departing Baltimore’s harbor and smashed into the Key Bridge, killing six people and destroying critical infrastructure.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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During a Freshman All-American season at Sac State in 2023, Smith smashed 14 home runs and nine doubles to go with 45 RBIs.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
18 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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