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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Recent Examples of decimate
After starring in 28 Days Later (2002) and sitting out the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, Cillian Murphy reprises his role in 28 Years Later as Jim, a former bicycle courier who previously woke from a coma to find the ‘Rage Virus’ has decimated London.
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Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024
Cleveland’s rotation was decimated with injuries throughout the season, yet the organization kept finding ways to piece five starters together all the way up through the American League Championship Series.
—Jason Lloyd, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Instead, Reagan immediately cut the budget for solar research by eighty-five per cent and did away with the tax credit for solar panels, decimating the infant industry.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
But McVay has a young team, a team that at one point was decimated by injuries.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decimate 
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024
Cleveland’s rotation was decimated with injuries throughout the season, yet the organization kept finding ways to piece five starters together all the way up through the American League Championship Series.
—Jason Lloyd, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Instead, Reagan immediately cut the budget for solar research by eighty-five per cent and did away with the tax credit for solar panels, decimating the infant industry.
—Bill McKibben, The New Yorker, 29 Dec. 2024
But McVay has a young team, a team that at one point was decimated by injuries.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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To its credit, Doc is more adept at crafting moral dilemmas that force its characters to reckon with the cost of saving one child at the expense of another’s health, or a patient’s right to know a secret that could destroy his family.Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Jan. 2025
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In 2023, nearly 40 were introduced to the council — from calling on the state legislature to let Louisville destroy confiscated firearms to requesting the city's Planning Commission review the Land Development Code.Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Extremes getting more extreme 2024 also saw a number of life-threatening disasters, from Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of North Carolina and Florida, to powerful heat waves across the U.S.Lauren Sommer, NPR, 24 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement Malaria, yellow fever and other tropical diseases devastated a workforce already struggling with especially dangerous terrain and harsh working conditions in the jungle, eventually costing more than 20,000 lives by some estimates.Will Weissert, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Well, Neptune and his Wildcats might just be ruining the convenient narrative.CJ Moore, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The plan is a major change for Jackson Memorial Hospital, which would demolish two office buildings across from a Metrorail station in 2027 to make way for affordable and workforce housing in two towers filled with shops, a hotel and more than 800 apartments.Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025
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Developers purchased the Young family home for $5.8 million in February 2023, and recently demolished the 4 Burleigh Street property to build a $28.75 million residential site, consequence.net reported.Angel Saunders, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Today, that internationalist consensus has shattered.Charles A. Kupchan, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
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An ugly ownership dispute spilled into public view this week, throwing the San Diego Padres into turmoil, shattering the quiet that defined their winter and raising questions about how the resulting uncertainty will affect the operation of the team.Ken Rosenthal, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For so long, the Steelers needed Watt to put on his cape and wreck a game to steal a win against a top-tier opponent.Mike DeFabo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Glasses, eyewear repair kits and gold cleaning equipment were wrecked.Abdi Latif Dahir, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That was a record handle, smashing the previous year’s Super Bowl wagering in the state by $32 million.Jay Ginsbach, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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That smashed the government’s forecast of 6.5% growth for the year, as well as last year’s growth figure of 5.05%. Exports, driven by electronics, smartphones, and garments, grew 14.3% in 2024 to reach $405.5 billion, and that helped drive Vietnam’s growth.Alena Botros, Fortune Asia, 6 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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