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
It's been fascinating to see Padres general manager A.J. Preller decimate his farm system and build an overpowered bullpen, one that now includes three past All-Stars and four pitchers with ERAs under 2.50.
—
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
This move effectively decimates the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which has conducted federal funds to NPR and PBS for nearly 60 years.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
For example, since the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians have destroyed two-thirds of Russia’s pre-invasion tank force, and decimated nearly half of Russia’s naval fleet on the Black Sea.
—Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
But poaching for meat and ivory decimated the population so much that the elephants disappeared during the war.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025
This move effectively decimates the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which has conducted federal funds to NPR and PBS for nearly 60 years.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
For example, since the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainians have destroyed two-thirds of Russia’s pre-invasion tank force, and decimated nearly half of Russia’s naval fleet on the Black Sea.
—Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
But poaching for meat and ivory decimated the population so much that the elephants disappeared during the war.
—Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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Protective sand dunes could be inundated and destroyed, which could lead to severe flooding inland, National Park Service officials at Cape Hatteras National Seashore warned Monday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
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Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Officials gathered Monday at a shopping center in Seymour that was devastated on Aug. 18, 2024 by massive flooding and mud that damaged multiple stores in the plaza and knocked them out of business for months and more.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
19 Aug. 2025
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Some movies aim to entertain, while others devastate.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even an old grain silo near the former Nickel Plate train station raised a few hackles when it was demolished.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
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When a building gets demolished, what happens to all that concrete, glass, stone or metal?—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But true evil transcends death…As Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
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What is there to say when our souls have been shattered day after day, week after week, year after year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The chief said the suspect wrecked the vehicle before taking a Volkswagen from a car dealership.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Houses and sections of a port have been wrecked or swept out to sea.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
30 July 2025
Verb
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By then, there were two outs, Jesse Winker was on second and came home on an RBI single by Starling Marte, dramatically smashing his helmet at home plate, punctuating a two-run lead.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Aug. 2025
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The Capitol building had been breached two hours earlier, with doors knocked off hinges and windows smashed.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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