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
Use floating row covers over seedlings and susceptible crops such as eggplants, which can be decimated by flea beetles.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
Like all large whales, the NOAA said fin whales were hunted by commercial whalers and their populations were decimated.
—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
The pandemic, in combination with soaring beef prices, had decimated barbecue joints that once peppered the East Bay.
—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Lawyers claimed the fight had turned existential with the measure threatening to decimate the profit margin of many personal injury cases and leave drivers with small or thorny cases unable to find an attorney willing to take their case.
—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 June 2026
Like all large whales, the NOAA said fin whales were hunted by commercial whalers and their populations were decimated.
—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
The pandemic, in combination with soaring beef prices, had decimated barbecue joints that once peppered the East Bay.
—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
21 June 2026
Lawyers claimed the fight had turned existential with the measure threatening to decimate the profit margin of many personal injury cases and leave drivers with small or thorny cases unable to find an attorney willing to take their case.
—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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Both victims died in separate mobile homes that were destroyed about two to three miles apart, Bullard said.
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If Iran’s atomic weapons infrastructure was destroyed in this war, funneling hundreds of billions into the country can’t be used to rebuild it.
Verb
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For months, Uber and lawyers from across the state poured tens of millions into dueling ballot measures that threatened to devastate the profits of whichever side lost.
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The jury in the federal trial of the man accused of starting the deadly blaze that devastated the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles last year is deadlocked after two days of deliberations, the court said Thursday.
Verb
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Don't Worry Too Much About Saltwater Or Chlorine Many people assume a quick swim in the ocean or pool will ruin their sunglasses.
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Could the Boston Celtics or another team ruin the Heat’s plan, swooping in and trading for Antetokounmpo this offseason and getting a long-term commitment from him?
Verb
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Nationally, many facilities of that time have since been demolished as housing policies evolved, but New Britain’s housing authority kept the roughly 250-unit Mount Pleasant and now operates it as its oldest property.
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Ryan Blank, who lives in the Manor Avenue neighborhood, hung out with his neighbors across the street from the house that got demolished by a tree.
Verb
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Many windows are shattered or boarded over with decaying plywood.
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Hundreds of records have already been shattered, with more expected as the heat intensifies today through Thursday.
Verb
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My polishing pads are always getting wrecked, used, or stolen by my dog (or all of those things).
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As many little heartbeats as possible, just running around, wrecking stuff in the house.
Verb
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Britons struggled to cope this week as the record June temperature was smashed three days in a row.
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Video and photos shared on social media appear to show the aircraft plummeting to the ground after smashing a large hole in the 108-story CITIC Tower, located in the Chinese capital's business district.
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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