decimated

Definition of decimatednext
past tense of decimate
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

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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
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.
    Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2026
  • In Paradise, California, a community destroyed by wildfire adopted the ‘Wildfire Prepared Home Standard’ as its mandatory rebuilding benchmark.
    Nina Seega, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
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.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026
  • In practice, organic liquids like crude oil ruined everything.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The Bills’ former stadium, called Highmark Stadium, is in the process of being demolished.
    John Wawrow, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • But a landmark designation could take about nine months and ultimately buildings can still be demolished, under state law.
    Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • It was held just 22 years after the Great Chicago Fire devastated the city, but Chicago was determined to dominate the world stage.
    Suzanne Le Mignot, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • The South Florida community — home to the largest Venezuelan diaspora in the United States — is rallying to deliver humanitarian aid to Venezuela after two powerful earthquakes devastated the country Wednesday evening.
    Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 27 June 2026
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.
    Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2026
  • His remaining leg was shattered.
    Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Just across the Mississippi River in Avondale, Louisiana, a tornado wrecked four homes, Jefferson Parish spokeswoman Rachel Strassel said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • Jane Ragsdale’s best friend Christine Chenoweth, a pastoral counselor and former Presbyterian minister, says the South Fork of the Guadalupe is now lousy and wrecked and haunted.
    Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • Archer's wickets were smashed by an unplayable shooter under his bat.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 June 2026
  • The suspect also allegedly attacked a car at a gas station, which was found with its windows smashed out and an axe inside, and he was seen pushing down shelves inside the station’s market, BBC News reported.
    Brie Stimson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimated. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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