decimating

present participle of decimate
as in destroying
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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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 decimating The all-new Tokyo Design Studio Niobium Concept 1 (TDS MSNB1) was born from that same style of category-decimating experimentation back in the days of isolation and face masks. New Atlas, 14 July 2026 The Islamic Republic’s leaders and commanders survived a 40-day onslaught aimed both at regime change and at decimating Iran’s nuclear and missile programs. Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026 Isn’t this boycott and those fears decimating Israeli cinema? Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 June 2026 Business Insider In Phoenix, the country’s call-center capital, AI is decimating working-class careers. Kristin Stoller, Fortune, 1 June 2026 The Mets lost Ronny Mauricio to a fractured thumb in Anaheim, decimating the once-robust infield depth. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026 Other aims the administration has stated include destroying Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, decimating its navy and stopping its support for regional militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 6 May 2026 No doubt the best-case scenario here is that the Samsung workers win…and get the right to continue manufacturing the mechanisms needed to fuel the large language models that are decimating jobs worldwide. Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026 In the early 2000s, fishermen from other parts of Indonesia and Southeast Asia used explosives and large nets, damaging corals, decimating shark populations and forcing local residents who relied on fishing to travel as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) offshore for a catch. ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimating
Verb
  • Keeping your lawn and garden well-maintained can also help reduce grasshopper populations by destroying their breeding habitat.
    The Spruce, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
  • But the Pentagon’s youthful set of avid desk-warriors forget that big hurricanes and regional weather events regularly disrupt waterfront facilities on the Gulf and East coasts, destroying worker housing and permanently peeling away shipbuilders.
    Craig Hooper, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • Floyd is no longer attracted to his wife, has trouble connecting with his teen-age stepson, and owes tens of thousands in taxes—a set of stressors that are ruining his health.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026
  • Plus, one of the biggest things that holds people back from DIY is a fear of ruining their home, but that’s virtually impossible with peel-and-stick wallpaper.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Western Newspaper Union Building Plans filed with the city show that the project would include demolishing and replacing an existing building on the site.
    Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 21 July 2026
  • Concerns over demolishing the Excelsior Club The decision to demolish has sparked tension with local preservationists and historians.
    Claire Harutunian, Charlotte Observer, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • The tax, generally considered a barometer of the tourist industry’s health, has been on a 14-month tear, shattering all monthly revenue records and outpacing the rosiest of predictions by its closest followers.
    Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • While the franchise dates way back to gaming’s 16-bit era, its most recent release, 2020’s Streets of Rage 4, hit like a jaw-shattering Grand Hook with critics and fans alike.
    Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Trump talks about devastating Iran’s infrastructure – hitting bridges and power plants.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • Over 850 wildfires are currently devastating Canada, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center.
    Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Long-distance backpacking is having a moment, and readers planning a first thru-hike want to know how to prepare without wrecking their body, their gear budget or their trip.
    Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 July 2026
  • Most of the peril comes with dangerous ship-wrecking moments, including one that implies the death of Moana's relative, while our heroine herself almost drowns on her first voyage from land.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
Verb
  • This actor, Yannis Kokiasmenos, came in for half a day and is holding his own, smashing this scene.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Then, in minute 105, Spain finally broke through with midfielder Ferran Torres smashing one into the net off a deflection.
    Tom Tapp, Deadline, 19 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decimating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimating. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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