decimate (Meaning)
decimate (v)
kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies
kill in large numbers
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.
Synonyms & Antonyms of decimate
Synonyms:
- mar
- ravage
- rub out
- overcome
- tear down
- raze
- injure
- cream
- vaporize
- desolate
- pulverize
- kill
- erode
- crush
- defeat
- cripple
- dismantle
- extinguish
- waste
- annihilate
- pull down
- damage
- total
Antonyms:
- protect
- put up
- establish
- recondition
- invent
- mend
- make
- put up
- rear
- assemble
- save
- bring about
- shape
- found
- recondition
- preserve
- fabricate
- fabricate
- invent
- mold
- rear
- assemble
- institute
- protect
- mold
- shape
- bring about
- forge
- found
- constitute
- form
- make
- manufacture
- establish
- manufacture
- conserve
- organize
- mend
- preserve
- revamp
- form
- restore
- organize
- frame
- revamp
- constitute
- institute
- forge
- restore
- frame
- save
- conserve
Synonyms:
- trample
- vandalize
- triumph (over)
- best
- fell
- blast
- nuke
- spoil
- lick
- sack
- slay
- mangle
- gut
- unmake
- zap
- pillage
- sweep (away)
- overbear
- disfigure
- thrash
- deface
- wallop
- wipe out
- trim
- take down
- disintegrate
- blot out
- master
- dissolve
- liquidate
- blow up
- deteriorate
- rout
- root (out)
- win (against)
- dynamite
- extirpate
- whip
- assassinate
- loot
- harm
- massacre
- scotch
- impair
- break
- eradicate
- murder
- undo
- plunder
- remove
- efface
- wrack
- vitiate
- slaughter
- havoc
- drub
- prevail (over)
- subdue
- kill off
- overmatch
- beat
- dispatch
- scour
- trounce
- execute
- disassemble
- butcher
- obliterate
- conquer
- despoil
- stamp (out)
- wear (away)
- exterminate
- wash out
- expunge
- mutilate
- cut down
- surmount
- clobber
- do in
Antonyms:
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
smash, devastate,destroy, wreck, shatter, demolish, ruin, mar, ravage, rub out
construct, fix, patch, fix, produce, raise, set up,build, erect, erect
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.
