as in extermination
formal
a usually violent act in which something is damaged or destroyed or in which a person or animal is killed
The town had somehow escaped the depredations of enemy soldiers.
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Recent Examples of depredation
In October 2024, 20 mountain lions were killed through depredation permits statewide, the DFW reported.
—
Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Wolf depredation in Cochise County last summer resulted in the relocation of a pack from southern Arizona to captivity in New Mexico.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Powers and his wife Marilyn keep watch over the cattle for the Predator Conservation Alliance to help keep wolves and grizzly bears out of the herds and reduce livestock depredation.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Keith Michael Lisa, 51, of Barnegat, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property, Habba announced Tuesday.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Federal wildlife agents confirmed the two depredation events, which took place Friday and Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025
Despite years of sitting on the sidelines, the United States has an opportunity to reassert itself in seeking to end the depredations of the junta and advance the cause of democracy in Myanmar.
—Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Four people were arrested, and three were charged felony offenses of assaulting a federal officer, while the fourth was charged with misdemeanor offense of depredation of government property, according to a Department of Justice press release.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Much of Russian research never fully recovered from the depredations of the Stalin era.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 28 Jan. 2026
Wolf depredation in Cochise County last summer resulted in the relocation of a pack from southern Arizona to captivity in New Mexico.
—Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Powers and his wife Marilyn keep watch over the cattle for the Predator Conservation Alliance to help keep wolves and grizzly bears out of the herds and reduce livestock depredation.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
Keith Michael Lisa, 51, of Barnegat, was charged with possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal facility and depredation of federal property, Habba announced Tuesday.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025
Federal wildlife agents confirmed the two depredation events, which took place Friday and Saturday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025
Despite years of sitting on the sidelines, the United States has an opportunity to reassert itself in seeking to end the depredations of the junta and advance the cause of democracy in Myanmar.
—Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Four people were arrested, and three were charged felony offenses of assaulting a federal officer, while the fourth was charged with misdemeanor offense of depredation of government property, according to a Department of Justice press release.
—Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Sep. 2025
Much of Russian research never fully recovered from the depredations of the Stalin era.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for depredation
Noun
-
Following the animal’s death and diagnosis, 64 rats that were killed through extermination or found dead on the San Diego Zoo property were examined, and two adult rats were found to be infected with lungworms and associated pneumonia.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
For the safest extermination method, spray the nest after dusk when the wasps are not active.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Washington has no answer to any of these questions – only a theory of destruction.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Jalloh’s lengthy criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, assault, drug possession, property destruction, identity theft, trespassing, firing a weapon, grand larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pickpocketing.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If not stopped it has the potential to cause an extinction-level global ice age.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
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To save men’s basketball without putting football on a road to extinction was thought to be impossible in June 2018, by which time Dan Hurley was hired to replace Ollie, when UConn joined the Big East.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
His parents wanted to make sure that he and his older brother would never get sucked into such slaughter.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Colt Gray is accused of using the firearm his father should have secured to carry out the slaughter about 45 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.—
Dan Gallo,
NBC news,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to Nikolas Cruz, the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, prosecutors said.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Colin Gray knew his son was obsessed with school shooters, even having a shrine in his bedroom to the shooter in the 2018 massacre at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, prosecutors said.—
Jeff Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
First there was Alexander Bublik, whaling his racket into the green court behind the baseline against Rinky Hijikata with abandon and devastation.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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The balance Jean strikes between devastation and liberation emphasizes the appreciation one brings to the other.—
Larisha Paul,
VIBE.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Depredation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/depredation. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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