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
Critics argue that policies like HR 1775 have the power to bury the truth about historical events like the Tulsa Race Massacre when white mobs murdered hundreds of Black residents and decimated the thriving African American commerce district known as Black Wall Street.
—
Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran's strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation.
—Alexander Cornwell, USA Today, 15 June 2025
The devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023, which killed hundreds of people and decimated communities near the Syrian border, was a 7.8 magnitude quake.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The play is set in the early and later 2000s, focusing on a diverse crop of blue collar workers who have seen their jobs dwindle as the North American Free Trade Agreement decimates U.S. employment.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
However, 20 months of war in Gaza and a conflict in Lebanon last year have decimated Tehran's strongest regional proxies, Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, reducing its options for retaliation.
—Alexander Cornwell, USA Today, 15 June 2025
The devastating earthquake in Turkey in 2023, which killed hundreds of people and decimated communities near the Syrian border, was a 7.8 magnitude quake.
—Chloe Mayer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025
The play is set in the early and later 2000s, focusing on a diverse crop of blue collar workers who have seen their jobs dwindle as the North American Free Trade Agreement decimates U.S. employment.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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Kanye West fired multiple PR firms before his antisemitic meltdowns destroyed billion-dollar partnerships with Adidas and Gap.—
Lilian Raji,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Indeterminate numbers of casualties have occurred in both Iran and Israel, though Israel's intentions to destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities may require U.S. artillery aid in the form of multi-ton bunker buster bombs.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Verb
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While everyone gives the duo a standing ovation, Zoe and company are devastated, knowing the truth.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
20 June 2025
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Petty said the Christensen family has been devastated by the fatal accident, but are hopeful that Ella will be released from the hospital later this week.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 June 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
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The front nine, which has ruined more than a handful of U.S. Open rounds over the last two days, proved to be much tougher.—
Troy Finnegan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 June 2025
Verb
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Thirteen years after the nursing home shut down, a developer is proposing to demolish the vacant building and put up 160 apartments.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
18 June 2025
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Hence today’s strange spectacle: the U.S.-led international order being demolished by the United States itself.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
16 June 2025
Verb
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Windshields of cars were shattered, bulldozers were removing rubble.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
14 June 2025
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The warheads aimed to do more than shatter concrete; they were meant to buy time, according to news reports.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 June 2025
Verb
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DeChambeau became the first defending champion to miss the cut at the national championship since Gary Woodland in 2020 — his round wrecked by errant drives, knucklers out of the rough and putts that would not drop.—
Apress,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
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When the blowback from this problem child’s dodgy associations threatens to wreck her life, the everymatriarch steps in.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 June 2025
Verb
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On June 21, Mitchell, South Dakota, broke its daily high temperatures record at 104 degrees, smashing its previous record of 101 degrees.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
24 June 2025
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Numerous other boats were damaged that day as the powerful thunderstorm churned up waves and sent boats smashing into each other and the marina, according to KCRA-TV.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.
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