decimated

adjective

dec·​i·​mat·​ed ˈde-sə-ˌmā-təd 

1

: drastically reduced especially in number

… the decimated population of Atlantic salmon that once gamboled in dozens of rivers in the northeastern United States …

—Pete Bodo

A denuded forest may one day regrow; the decimated culture that called it home sadly will not.

—Stephen Messenger

2

: destroyed or significantly harmed

… its dusty streets, scattered with burned out vehicles and flanked on either side by decimated buildings.

—Jay Akbar

Many workers may want to delay retirement to replenish decimated 401(k) portfolios …

—Emily Brandon

Can we take as governor a man who'd give $46 million in public money to a bottling lobby, instead of using it to salvage decimated public programs?

—David Nyhan

see also decimate

Examples of decimated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Panthers quickly scooped him up in hopes to aid their decimated DB room. — Sam Jane, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026

But the win didn’t look good, as the Hawks faced a decimated Pacers squad. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 3 Nov. 2026

The Chargers came in with a decimated offensive line that featured four rookies trying to protect Herbert, who was 14 of 24 for 121 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception while getting sacked five times. — ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

As people were still leaving Trishuli, some village residents were returning to see what could be salvaged from their decimated homes. — Arkansas Online, 30 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1658, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decimated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated