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
Relevance
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 decimated
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 disease decimated not only crowded cities, but also small, nomadic hunter-gatherer groups.
—
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Newsom’s agenda has decimated California’s refining sector and convinced Chevron to move its company headquarters to Houston in 2024 after more than a century in the San Francisco Bay area.
—
David Blackmon,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cute names and impressive numbers aside, the snakes did not choose to be here, and the python invasion has decimated ecosystems in South Florida.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
22 June 2026
The disease decimated not only crowded cities, but also small, nomadic hunter-gatherer groups.
—
ABC News,
17 June 2026
Newsom’s agenda has decimated California’s refining sector and convinced Chevron to move its company headquarters to Houston in 2024 after more than a century in the San Francisco Bay area.
—
David Blackmon,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cute names and impressive numbers aside, the snakes did not choose to be here, and the python invasion has decimated ecosystems in South Florida.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimated
Verb
-
The second inferno killed 12 people, destroyed 6,500 structures across the Palisades and Malibu and cost billions in damage and insurance claims.
-
In Paradise, California, a community destroyed by wildfire adopted the ‘Wildfire Prepared Home Standard’ as its mandatory rebuilding benchmark.
Verb
-
Its front-facing design deters pickpockets, while the water-resistant fabric protects your phone from surprise downpours or sweaty adventure days—because no one wants their phone ruined halfway through a trip.
-
In practice, organic liquids like crude oil ruined everything.
Verb
-
The Bills’ former stadium, called Highmark Stadium, is in the process of being demolished.
-
But a landmark designation could take about nine months and ultimately buildings can still be demolished, under state law.
Verb
-
Earlier that day, Contreras had broken down in tears while talking about the deadly earthquakes that devastated his native Venezuela.
-
Carr, who has spent decades documenting South Florida's Indigenous history, said the region's Native population had been devastated long before the American Revolution.
Verb
-
Carelessness and accidents happen, however, so take some time with each season to go through items and toss anything that’s faded, shattered, or stopped working.
-
His remaining leg was shattered.
Verb
-
In the history of mankind, socialist success stories are as rare as triple plays in baseball, but plenty of countries have been wrecked by it — Venezuela and Cuba, to name just two.
-
My polishing pads are always getting wrecked, used, or stolen by my dog (or all of those things).
Verb
-
Two of the attackers then smashed the windshield of the news van with a parking cone and damaged the camera before leaving the scene.
-
The van’s windows were smashed and a lone orange traffic cone sat on the hood.
Cite this Entry
“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimated. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
