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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Recent Examples of decimate
Decades after a crackdown by prosecutors decimated the ranks of the New York Mafia, the indictment of an NBA coach, a player and nearly three dozen others in a betting scandal highlighted the mob’s persistence and adaptability to changing times and technology.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
But when they were forced to retreat, harsh winter conditions, starvation and disease decimated the invaders.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities didn't hesitate Thursday to pin the poker scam on La Cosa Nostra, showing that organized crime is still a modern law enforcement concern even after FBI operations in the 1980s and 1990s seemed to decimate the five families.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
China’s medium-range missile arsenal has swelled from 600 a few years ago to 1,300 today, more than enough to decimate American bases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
But when they were forced to retreat, harsh winter conditions, starvation and disease decimated the invaders.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2025
Federal authorities didn't hesitate Thursday to pin the poker scam on La Cosa Nostra, showing that organized crime is still a modern law enforcement concern even after FBI operations in the 1980s and 1990s seemed to decimate the five families.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 24 Oct. 2025
China’s medium-range missile arsenal has swelled from 600 a few years ago to 1,300 today, more than enough to decimate American bases in Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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Just under two million Palestinians—virtually the entire population of Gaza—have been displaced since October 2023, many repeatedly, and Israeli forces have damaged or destroyed more than 90 percent of homes in the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
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Teddy is a conspiracy theorist who believes Michelle is an alien hellbent on destroying Earth.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The fires claimed 102 lives, displaced over 13,000 others and burned more than 3,000 homes, destroying centuries of cultural history and devastating the economy of an entire region, with losses estimated at nearly $13 billion.—
Josh Green,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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Season 4 saw the cast confront the mysterious Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), an incredibly powerful telepath, in a battle that left Hawkins devastated and expanded the rift between the Earth and the Upside Down.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That’s why his mistress threw in with Frank to intimidate Dale into a land deal that would have ruined any chance of Chutto’s family ever getting their land back.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
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Because when those premiums go up by 100, 200%, people’s lives are ruined.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Trump exposed a 'loophole' to demolish the White House East Wing.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
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The ballroom project has stirred controversy, as the East Wing, home of the First Lady’s staff and long a grand entrance for White House events, was demolished to make room for the new ballroom.—
Kate Wolffe
October 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Even if a dish is marked safe for use in the oven, if heated beyond a certain temperature, or if a broil setting is used, glass can shatter.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
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The strength to sit with what shattered before building what’s next.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Storm preparations Cuba has been struck almost yearly by a major hurricane in recent years, sometimes twice, wrecking the country’s already decrepit infrastructure, damaging crops and destroying thousands of homes in precarious condition.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Oct. 2025
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In 1816 the stratosphere was saturated with Tambora’s dust, and sea ice nearly wrecked Scoresby’s ship off the eastern coast of Greenland.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the village of Hula in southern Lebanon, a monument engraved with the names of almost 100 Lebanese killed here in 1948 just after the creation of the state of Israel lies covered in graffiti and smashed to pieces.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
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Helm smashes some trees and things.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
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