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

Season 2 saw Aemond purposefully incinerating his brother, leaving him badly burned, and decimating the Riverlands while on Vhagar. — Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

His team was decimated by injuries but remained competitive and ended its season at the College Basketball Crown tournament in Las Vegas. — Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 20 July 2026

The shaggy bovines of the plains and boreal forests were nearly hunted to extinction in a frenzy of killing that decimated their population. — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 20 July 2026

To be sure, Iran’s economy is reeling and conventional forces were decimated, but the Islamic Republic has enough combat power to scare away commercial shipping and isn’t deterred from continuing its attacks. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 18 July 2026

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!