as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the army's attack decimated the enemy's defenses beyond repair
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decimate
The bluegill population was decimated.
—
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Civil War had just decimated the horse breeding industry and there was a need to get people interested in racing again.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Meanwhile, Syrians still face an ongoing humanitarian crisis while the country recovers from a decades long civil war that has decimated the country’s infrastructure, economy, and civil society.
—Dr. Alister Martin, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Vilmanis doing so during the middle of the season when Florida was still in the playoff hunt, Benning to close out the season as essentially the Panthers’ blue line was decimated with injuries down the stretch.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
The Civil War had just decimated the horse breeding industry and there was a need to get people interested in racing again.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
Meanwhile, Syrians still face an ongoing humanitarian crisis while the country recovers from a decades long civil war that has decimated the country’s infrastructure, economy, and civil society.
—Dr. Alister Martin, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Vilmanis doing so during the middle of the season when Florida was still in the playoff hunt, Benning to close out the season as essentially the Panthers’ blue line was decimated with injuries down the stretch.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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The Trinity fire, which started May 1 in Phelan, burned 19 acres with no structures damaged, though the blaze destroyed an unknown number of Joshua trees.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces destroyed several military and other targets, while also inflicting significant damage on oil port infrastructure.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Verb
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The deadly fires that devastated homes in Pacific Palisades and Altadena also laid waste to a lush canopy of leaves and pine needles that had cooled and shaded residents here for generations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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Such local weather events have devastated rural communities in recent years.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Scrubbing can ruin the finish on fabric, especially upholstery.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
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Safeguarding the location of the Bezos’ party could save the man Forbes calls the world’s fourth-richest person from having protesters ruin his evening.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
Verb
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The Browns will pay for their current home to be demolished after the 2028 season, which will make way for lakefront development.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
1 May 2026
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Trump has overseen dramatic cosmetic changes on the White House grounds during his second term, including paving over the grassy line of the famous Rose Garden and demolishing the White House's East Wing to make way for a massive ballroom.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Verb
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LaPorta set the rookie tight end record for receptions in 2023 with 86 (the Las Vegas Raiders’ Brock Bowers shattered it a year later with 112).—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
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If the record pace continues, TDT will raise well over $400 million in the current fiscal year, shattering last year’s mark.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Police found Berry’s vehicle, along with personal items inside, wrecked in the driveway – but Berry was not at the home, the warrant says.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
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The Bills will head into the season without a true, identifiable game-wrecking defensive player on the roster.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The Bears smashed 3 home runs in the game with Avery Welch getting things started with a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first after a 1-out walk to Haylie Jimenez.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 May 2026
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Lopez, who smashed 15 homers last season, nearly had his fourth of the season on Friday.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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