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

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 But that did little to fend off a rash of injuries that decimated the roster during the regular season. Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 Expansions, nips, and tucks happened over the years, but the British Colonial design was needing a facelift when Hurricane Irma decimated the island in September 2017. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Aug. 2026 In addition to the fatalities, the natural disaster has decimated Chocó's school infrastructure, according to Shakira's announcement. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026 On top of that, Beran added a receiving TD when the offense was decimated by injuries. Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Bedbug populations in developed countries were decimated after World War II due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026 Earlier that day, Moneymaker drove back from Chimney Rock, one of the many areas in western North Carolina decimated by Hurricane Helene. Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2026 After the Chechen war in the 1990s when Russian tanks were decimated by light anti-tank weapons, the Russians introduced the Arena Active Protection System to detect and intercept incoming projectiles. David Hambling, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 In the United States, steady, well-paying blue-collar jobs have been all but decimated, and fewer men than women are earning the college degrees that have become almost a prerequisite for financial stability. Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 3 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimated
Verb
  • Glutathione was offered to firefighters during recent blazes that destroyed hundreds of buildings in and around Spokane, Washington.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • If satellites supporting communications or ISR were damaged or destroyed, a faster and less expensive launch system could theoretically allow replacement spacecraft to be deployed more quickly.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The influx all but ruined Sutter’s extensive land holdings around Sacramento, originally dubbed New Helvetia.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Brentford will be hoping promising midfielder Antoni Milambo can contribute after his debut season was ruined by an ACL injury in October.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Its status as a historic landmark saved it from being demolished like all its sister theaters, but Santana Row owner Federal Realty controls its fate.
    Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Eventually, some buildings were demolished to control the fires.
    Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Family members declined to speak on camera but told CBS News Miami they are devastated by the incident.
    Abby Dodge, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Daniel Vaz De Melo Sa, business development manager for Guidoni USA, said the flood of imports devastated operations at the company’s site in McRae, Georgia.
    Bloomberg News, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Windows were shattered at a children’s hospital in the Solomianskyi district, said Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
    Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Cops responding to the area found a window shattered by gunfire and a pool of blood inside Hakim’s, a nearby seasonal restaurant for adults that neighbors say has become a teen hangout.
    Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The biggest mistake parents make is adding dates to the calendar month-by-month, only to realize too late that a random Tuesday half-day has totally wrecked their work schedule.
    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Decay intensified quickly, and the elements broke down most anything that vandals hadn’t already wrecked.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Not the first time This is far from the first incident where brazen criminals have smashed through stores and banks in Maryland to steal cash machines.
    Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • MuMe’s security systems were triggered when the thieves smashed glass display cases in the museum.
    News Desk, Artforum, 17 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimated. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on decimated

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!