as in destroyed
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decimated
Although red wolves were once commonly found throughout the Southeast United States, by the 1960s red wolf populations were decimated due to loss of habitat.
—
Ashley Soebroto, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
Iran has been essentially decimated.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, the Spurs rolled to a 127-113 victory against a Golden State team decimated down to nine healthy players, three of which were on two-way contracts.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Apr. 2026
The plot follows a coastal town decimated by a Category 5 hurricane, where the resulting storm surge brings with it a terrifying influx of hungry sharks.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Ashley Soebroto, Houston Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
Iran has been essentially decimated.
—James Powel, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
On Wednesday, the Spurs rolled to a 127-113 victory against a Golden State team decimated down to nine healthy players, three of which were on two-way contracts.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Apr. 2026
The plot follows a coastal town decimated by a Category 5 hurricane, where the resulting storm surge brings with it a terrifying influx of hungry sharks.
—Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimated
Verb
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While there are no comprehensive studies comparing the environmental impacts of cultivated versus conventional seafood, alternatives like Wildtype could avoid ocean pollution and overfishing, which have caused losses in biodiversity and destroyed the ocean’s resiliency.—
Jaia Clingham-David,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
15 Apr. 2026
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Yutu destroyed 85% of the Saipan campus of Northern Marianas College, said the school's president, Galvin Deleon Guerrero.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Scott would play Ben Wyatt, a former teen mayor who’d ruined his town financially and was now paying penance by becoming a state budget auditor.—
Jennifer Armstrong,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
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Voicer Peter Sulzicki may be correct in that the three-pointer has ruined the game of basketball.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Sunday night, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson said recovery phase began with removing larger pieces of concrete that crews demolished from the once seven-story parking garage, which was being built for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia employees.—
Tom Ignudo,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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That architecture of comparison has been demolished.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But Perez, Vargas and Blanco were devastated by the decision to let Braddy live.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
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But the loss of those extra property tax dollars devastated cities, which had been scrambling since Proposition 13 put the brakes on property tax increases.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The project offers an insightful look at Odom, a gifted athlete and former star on the Los Angeles Lakers whose championship career was shattered by multiple personal demons and addiction.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The impact shattered the glass door instantly, sending debris flying and abruptly ending the standoff.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sharp-toothed action flick centers on a South Carolina coastal town wrecked by a hurricane.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
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Trump's rocky relationship with NATO dates back to his first term, but the war with Iran has wrecked any remaining foundation, NPR's Franco Ordoñez says.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Video showed the moment the debris smashed through the lobby door as a man stood nearby.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
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Colt Keith and Greene had two-out singles before Dingler smashed an 0-2 changeup over the left field wall for his third homer this season.—
John Devine,
Miami Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimated. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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