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 The move comes after Google’s AI summaries in search results have decimated click-through rates for online publishers. Todd Spangler, Variety, 4 June 2026 In the first primary since the death of Alameda County District 2 Supervisor Richard Valle, the race for District 2 comes as supervisors confront how to respond to state and federal cuts that have decimated budgets of safety net services and strained the county’s finances. Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 3 June 2026 The exemptions date back to the birth of the state in 1948, when a small number of students sought to revive the Jewish scholarship system after it was decimated by the Holocaust. Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026 Hezbollah’s leadership had been decimated by an Israeli assassination campaign, and much of its stockpile of weapons was destroyed during the war. Euan Ward, New Yorker, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for decimated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimated
Verb
  • The fire burned more than 60 acres and destroyed several structures, including homes, according to CBS Los Angeles.
    Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
  • More than 400 were destroyed in accordance with nuclear arms treaty agreements.
    Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • That's when the PAW Patrol has to step in to stop Humdinger before the island is ruined!
    Sari Hitchins, Parents, 10 June 2026
  • But Wembanyama and the Spurs ended the streak and ruined the Knicks’ first home NBA Finals game since 1999.
    Brian Mahoney, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • Last week, an iconic cafe was demolished at the base of the structure, and on Sunday, some residents were wondering if excavation work three weeks ago may have contributed to the pier's collapse.
    John Ramos, CBS News, 15 June 2026
  • For her trouble, she was demolished in the general election by Jerry Brown, 54-41.
    Garry South, Mercury News, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, leaving more than 1300 people dead and becoming the most expensive hurricane in history with overall economic losses estimated at $125 billion.
    August 21, NPR, 21 Aug. 2025
  • For the left, the answer to any problem is more government spending, but progressive policies have devastated minority and other economically disadvantaged groups for decades.
    Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The family of a Vermont man in federal custody told k that immigration agents boxed him in his vehicle, shattered its window, and forced him out at gunpoint before allegedly running over his foot.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Dec. 2025
  • After a lifetime spent reciting the eternal love story of the Taj Mahal, veteran tour guide Vishu Das says his faith is shattered.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The six jurors in George Pino’s vessel-homicide and manslaughter trial took a road trip to North Miami on Thursday morning to view his boat, which was wrecked in the crash that killed a teenage girl and severely injured two others.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • And for the first time this season, the cars wrecked completely flat-out; with no long straights and plenty of braking zones, the cars were not energy-limited for once this season.
    Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Fans fought in the streets, heaved bottles, smashed windows and shouted filthy insults in the melee, which left nearly 50 people injured.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 15 June 2026
  • Police said dozens of people climbed onto a row of school buses parked in Times Square after shuttling fans to the World Cup in New Jersey, then ripped off hoods and smashed windshields before igniting one of the buses.
    Christina Fan, CBS News, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimated. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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