decimation

noun

Definition of decimationnext
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the virtual decimation of the coastal town by the hurricane

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 decimation Trump’s decimation of the federal bureaucracy, which included cutting thousands of jobs at the State Department, has triggered an unprecedented exodus from the Foreign Service. — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 Some users noted that the decimation of local media has left them with fewer options for learning about down-ballot races. — Maham Javaid, NPR, 5 Oct. 2026 The decimation of our native ash trees because of a tiny insect proves that everyone planting the same type of tree, yard after yard, is not a smart idea. — Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Sep. 2026 Following Jaws' success, Benchley expressed regret over the story's impact on the public's fear of sharks and the decimation of shark populations, committing himself to shark conservation and education efforts. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026 The liberal wing of the court sees the decision as a decimation of the Voting Rights Act. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026 The third generation of Garrods experienced the decimation of the fruit orchard business and, seeking another stable form of income, began boarding horses in 1962. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2026 Clairvoyance came during an early-March decimation of the Nuggets. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026 Upon learning that dogs were allowed to roam on the lawn, the reason for its decimation became clear, since this grass, although touted for its shade and drought tolerance, is highly sensitive to dog urine and dog digging. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimation
  1. destruction
  2. devastation
  3. extinction
  4. havoc
  5. loss
  6. demolition
Noun
  • Today on the show, Planet Money goes inside the destruction lab to see that high octane experimentation in action and to learn about how the insurance industry has been quietly shaping the world around us for over a century.
    — Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The use of new production technologies also requires a degree of creative destruction that Beijing’s own industrial policy interventions have inhibited.
    — Oliver Melton, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • After the war, any proof of God’s existence had to be found in his absence, in the material and spiritual devastation people were living with.
    — Kristian Vistrup Madsen, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The sequel picks up in 1949, two years after the events of Minus One, as Japan struggles to rebuild from the devastation of war and Godzilla’s attack.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • In the early 19th century, California’s sea otters were hunted to the brink of extinction, the unparalleled softness and value of their fur drawing fur trappers all the way from Russia into California.
    — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The timing has raised questions about whether the environmental changes following that extinction helped the fungus’s ancestors thrive.
    — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of extinction
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the war has wreaked global havoc with no end in sight.
    — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
  • In December 2004 such a wave swept over Earth, causing some havoc.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Kansas defensive end Leroy Harris III’s assignment was to rush the passer on the most pivotal play of the Jayhawks’ 33-32 loss to UCF on Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Not all signal losses are the same Most consumer drones rely on several communication and navigation systems working together.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of loss
Noun
  • Pan Am’s Miami headquarters first opened in 1964, sat empty for 15 years, and was slated for demolition before PS restored it.
    — Lauren Harano, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Nov. 2026
  • According to The Real Deal, demolition permits have been sought for the sites, and the city has approved the removal of several structures, including homes and guesthouses.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of demolition

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decimating
decimation
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Cite this Entry

“Decimation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimation. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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