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decimate

verb

ˈde-sə-ˌmāt How to pronounce decimate (audio)
Definition of decimatenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decimate Did someone within Rushville, a town decimated by Jordan’s recklessness, wait 10 years for a little revenge of their own? — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Sep. 2026 South Korean filmmaker Na Hong-jin’s sci-fi thriller follows a pair of officers (Hwang Jung-min and Hoyeon) who investigate a small village decimated by unknown creatures. — Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 Fielder and Oppenheim have created a fascinating portrait of a relationship, decimating notions of objectivity in documentary while also interrogating the limits of fiction. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 But Aston Martin, ooh, Aston Martin’s getting decimated, and Porsche is in serious trouble. — Joel Feder, The Drive, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
  1. destroy
  2. demolish
  3. ruin
  4. devastate
  5. shatter
  6. wreck
Verb
  • The fire destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins and other structures.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Mark Zuckerberg certainly wants no part of one, and cutthroat competition seems hard-coded into tech executives, who are rich enough not to need to win but wake up every morning trying to destroy each other anyway.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of destroy
Verb
  • The block that houses Monarch Donuts will soon be demolished as construction starts on a new retail and residential development called the Arcadia Town Center.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Some are also concerned that the president's proposal for the arch, along with other projects like the ballroom and threats to demolish the Kennedy Center, could significantly alter Washington's landscape.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of demolish
Verb
  • Before the attack, millions of books a year were printed in this space, where there’s now nothing but piles of swollen book stock, ruined after firefighters put out the blaze.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • But Timothy Leary’s version became the dominant idea of psychedelics, and when President Ronald Reagan’s War on Drugs began, psychedelics were vilified as the gateway to ruin.
    — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of ruin
Verb
  • The horrors for women and girls are prevalent everywhere, Theron said, but her native South Africa is particularly devastated by it.
    — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Florida citrus growers are planting trees with gene-editing technology to combat the deadly citrus greening disease that has devastated many of their crops.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastate
Verb
  • Delicately beautiful, with big emotions and a dramatic flair, the cosseted Vivien’s world was shattered at the age of six, when she was sent to be raised in a convent in England.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Revived fighting shattered a 2022 ceasefire as Houthis strike Saudi cities, oil facilities and shipping, declare a blockade and claim growing power.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of shatter
Verb
  • The yahoos in our capital would wreck only the state this time and not the whole country, but the irresponsibility is the same.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Here’s how the shift happened, what the ingredient actually does below the neck and how to fold it into a routine without wrecking your skin barrier.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of wreck

Browse Nearby Words

decimals
decimate
decimated
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Cite this Entry

“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 25 Sep. 2026.

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