Synonyms of decimate

decimate

verb

ˈde-sə-ˌmāt 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• devastate
• shatter
• wreck
• smash
• overcome
• damage
• annihilate
• erode
• vaporize
• ravage
• pulverize
• waste
• extinguish
• raze
• cripple
• desolate
• kill
• total
• mar
• tear down
• cream
• dismantle
• defeat
• rub out
• pull down
• crush
• nuke
• injure
• subdue
• remove
• wrack
• do in
• best
• break
• conquer
• impair
• spoil
• disintegrate
• blast
• eradicate
• harm
• disfigure
• trim
• obliterate
• mutilate
• deteriorate
• dissolve
• lick
• mangle
• rout
• exterminate
• prevail (over)
• master
• win (against)
• surmount
• trounce
• triumph (over)
• vitiate
• clobber
• assassinate
• scour
• beat
• thrash
• whip
• undo
• extirpate
• slaughter
• deface
• wear (away)
• dynamite
• sweep (away)
• expunge
• liquidate
• blow up
• slay
• overmatch
• scotch
• despoil
• trample
• disassemble
• sack
• overbear
• execute
• gut
• pillage
• wash out
• plunder
• fell
• wipe out
• havoc
• wallop
• efface
• unmake
• drub
• blot out
• take down
• massacre
• cut down
• stamp (out)
• loot
• murder
• zap
• butcher
• root (out)
• kill off
• dispatch
• snuff (out)
• dilapidate
• mow (down)
• vandalize
• skunk
• take out
• unbuild
• trash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• raise
• create
• set up
• erect
• repair
• produce
• fix
• patch
• put up
• rear
• make
• protect
• establish
• invent
• form
• constitute
• found
• preserve
• assemble
• mend
• shape
• organize
• manufacture
• save
• fabricate
• forge
• revamp
• mold
• frame
• restore
• bring about
• conserve
• recondition
• institute
• fashion
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• doctor
• renovate
• father
• remodel

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of decimate

In present day, back on the planet decimated by the Manhunters, John interrogates Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen) and learns that Noah freed the villain from prison. — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

The offensive line sort of got decimated, and now the cornerbacks have gotten decimated. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026

Russia has been targeting presses and publishing houses across Ukraine for the past month, in a campaign that’s increasingly concerned with decimating Ukrainian culture. — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

This opaqueness from earlier in the season pays off in the form of John recounting the brutal methods the Manhunter used to decimate this planet, involving a fear gas that made people kill one another and jump to their deaths. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026

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