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
Jed Hoyer can’t recall seeing his team’s starting pitching depth be decimated as significantly as the Chicago Cubs currently are experiencing.
—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
After all, some celestial Goliaths can run a lot larger than JH2—large enough to decimate entire countries and even continents.
—
Govert Schilling,
Scientific American,
27 June 2026
Destroying most of the Hollywood heavy community, the Palisades Fire killed more than a dozen people and decimated over 5,400 homes.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2026
After all, some celestial Goliaths can run a lot larger than JH2—large enough to decimate entire countries and even continents.
—
Govert Schilling,
Scientific American,
27 June 2026
Destroying most of the Hollywood heavy community, the Palisades Fire killed more than a dozen people and decimated over 5,400 homes.
—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 June 2026
Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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The most common type of dementia, which destroys memory and cognitive function, was responsible for 116,022 deaths in 2024, NCHS data shows.
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That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
Verb
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The project has sparked outrage because of the location’s pristine nature and unique habitat that would be irreversibly devastated, according to environmentalists.
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BangkokReuters — The family of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was found in a suitcase in Pattaya said they were devastated by her death, for which an Australian man has been arrested and charged with murder.
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
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After all, plenty of cocktail enthusiasts already complain about mosquitoes ruining a summer evening.
Verb
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The East Wing of the White House was demolished suddenly in October 2025, and construction at the site, which will be the location of a new 22,000-square-foot ballroom, has continued through mid-2026.
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Just months later, in October, the East Wing had been demolished without notice to make way for the new ballroom.
Verb
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Seconds later, a powerful explosion blasted through the doorway, shattering windows and sending vertical blinds and debris flying as firefighters quickly retreated from the building.
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Republican Rick Jackson shattered spending records in Georgia by spending $108 million of his own money into his campaign for governor.
Verb
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The good news is that dermatologists and makeup artists have figured out how to keep your SPF topped up without wrecking your foundation, blush or setting spray.
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In the history of mankind, socialist success stories are as rare as triple plays in baseball, but plenty of countries have been wrecked by it — Venezuela and Cuba, to name just two.
Verb
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Powell is accused of smashing the mug over the victim's head.
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The van’s windows were smashed and a lone orange traffic cone sat on the hood.
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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