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 condition is highly treatable – but not in Gaza, where healthcare institutions and supplies have been decimated by Israel’s yearslong war in the Palestinian enclave.
—
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Earlier this month, relentless 90-mile-an-hour Santa Ana winds sent wildfires tearing through Greater Los Angeles, taking more than two dozen lives, flattening neighborhoods and decimating biodiversity.
—Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
The fire serves as a painful reminder that Southern California remains under the threat of wildfires even as crews make significant progress in containing the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which have decimated communities and claimed more than two dozen lives.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Altadena, for instance, home to some of the West Coast’s most historic and flourishing Black middle-class neighborhoods, was decimated by the area wildfires.
—Jerel Ezell, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for decimate 
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
Earlier this month, relentless 90-mile-an-hour Santa Ana winds sent wildfires tearing through Greater Los Angeles, taking more than two dozen lives, flattening neighborhoods and decimating biodiversity.
—Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
The fire serves as a painful reminder that Southern California remains under the threat of wildfires even as crews make significant progress in containing the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires, which have decimated communities and claimed more than two dozen lives.
—Hunter Clauss, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2025
Altadena, for instance, home to some of the West Coast’s most historic and flourishing Black middle-class neighborhoods, was decimated by the area wildfires.
—Jerel Ezell, TIME, 28 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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The storm destroyed every structure on the island, wiping out the concert stage, tiki bar, giant slide and food truck.—
Gabrielle Calise Tampa Bay Times (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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In addition to Meester and Brody, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were among the stars who confirmed that their homes were also destroyed.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Friends began to worry, and then were devastated by the news, KATV reported.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
6 Feb. 2025
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As the fires devastated the city, some of the first aid administered to Los Angeles was provided by chefs and restaurants.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ancient people weren't about to let these pests ruin their crops or their lives.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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The film ends with Ross going full Red Hulk in the White House Rose Garden (oops), nearly ruining his legacy (Sterns’ real prize) and ultimately forcing him to admit his wrongdoing, give up his office, and head to The Raft to serve an undetermined amount of time in the floating prison.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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According to the El Cajon Boulevard Business Improvement Association, the restaurant was later demolished to make way for Interstate 805.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
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The roof and several walls of her modest home have been demolished, leaving Jahjouh with just one room covered with a makeshift roof.—
Tareq Al Hilou,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Officers recovered 15 9 mm shell casings from a Jan. 28 afternoon skirmish involving four people in a store parking lot in the 8300 block of Roberts Road that sprayed bullets into a car, shattering the rear windshield and flattening two tires, police said.—
Dennis Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
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In Mexico, a period of relative calm was shattered with the killing of five journalists as gangs and political groups clashed ahead of the June 2024 election.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The powerful storm wrecked Tropicana Field, home to Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays, rendering the stadium unplayable for this season and possibly longer.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Feb. 2025
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There's little doubt about next week being a 'climate emergency' with extreme cold—perhaps historical—wrecking the central United States.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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France’s Ad Vitam has entered Netflix’s all-time top ten for most popular non-English movies on its platform one week after Culpa Tuya smashed records for Amazon.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
7 Feb. 2025
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These carnivorous crustaceans pack a powerful punch that can smash mollusk shells at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour and even break glass.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
7 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
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