decimate Synonyms

decimate Meaning

Wordnet

decimate (v)

kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies

kill in large numbers

Webster

decimate (v. t.)

To take the tenth part of; to tithe.

To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny.

To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.

decimate Sentence Examples

  1. The hurricane decimated the coastal town, leaving behind widespread destruction.
  2. The disease outbreak decimated the population of the village, claiming many lives.
  3. The economic recession decimated small businesses, leading to widespread closures.
  4. The invading army's artillery fire decimated the enemy's defenses.
  5. The wildfire decimated acres of forest, leaving charred landscapes in its wake.
  6. The invasive species decimated the local flora and fauna, disrupting the ecosystem.
  7. The drought decimated the crops, causing food shortages in the region.
  8. The plague decimated the medieval population, leading to a significant decline in civilization.
  9. The financial crisis decimated the stock market, wiping out investments.
  10. The civil war decimated families, leaving behind a legacy of loss and grief.

FAQs About the word decimate

kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies, kill in large numbersTo take the tenth part of; to tithe., To select by lot and punish with death every

shatter, devastate, ruin,destroy, wreck, demolish, smash, mar, annihilate, rub out

create, erect, erect, build, patch, repair, produce, produce, set up, raise

The hurricane decimated the coastal town, leaving behind widespread destruction.

The disease outbreak decimated the population of the village, claiming many lives.

The economic recession decimated small businesses, leading to widespread closures.

The invading army's artillery fire decimated the enemy's defenses.