decapitate
verb
de·cap·i·tate di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt 
dē-
decapitated; decapitating
transitive verb
: to cut off the head of : behead
decapitation
di-ˌka-pə-ˈtā-shən
noun dē-
decapitator
di-ˈka-pə-ˌtā-tər
noun dē-
Did you know?
Decapitation is a quick and fairly painless way to go, so it was once considered suitable only for nobles like Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Queen of Scots, and two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. The invention of the guillotine in the 18th century was meant to make execution swifter and more painless than hanging or a badly aimed blow by the executioner's sword.
Synonyms
- behead
- guillotine
- head
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated
Recent Examples on the Web The intelligence picture had only become clearer that Russia intended to make a lightning strike on Kyiv and decapitate the central government. 
Liz Sly, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 Others used machetes to hack off spear and lance points, and then decapitate their foes. Scott Dalton, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 Even a 14-game winning streak by the second-place Atlanta Braves hasn’t been able to decapitate New York. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 26 June 2022 Making matters worse, there is a serial killer on the loose, a killer so violent that his throat slashes basically decapitate his victims, one of whom was found near Julia and Francis’ apartment. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2022 Compare that to Russia’s initial goals—to occupy Kyiv, decapitate the Ukrainian government, capture all of Donbas and Ukraine’s Black Sea coast and destroy the Ukrainian armed forces. David Axe, Forbes, 19 May 2022 In a war marked by Russia’s underperformance, by its inability to take Kyiv and its failed attempt to decapitate the Ukrainian leadership, control of the devastated metropolis amounts to a significant and horrific Kremlin victory. Washington Post, 24 Apr. 2022 His warnings have been echoed by Western officials who say Putin intends to decapitate Ukraine's pro-western government and possibly replace it with a Moscow-friendly regime. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 When the plants are new and tiny, Yiesla said, it’s enough to decapitate them with a hoe or cultivator that just skims the soil surface. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022 See More
Liz Sly, Washington Post, 16 Aug. 2022 Others used machetes to hack off spear and lance points, and then decapitate their foes. Scott Dalton, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 Even a 14-game winning streak by the second-place Atlanta Braves hasn’t been able to decapitate New York. Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 26 June 2022 Making matters worse, there is a serial killer on the loose, a killer so violent that his throat slashes basically decapitate his victims, one of whom was found near Julia and Francis’ apartment. Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 2 June 2022 Compare that to Russia’s initial goals—to occupy Kyiv, decapitate the Ukrainian government, capture all of Donbas and Ukraine’s Black Sea coast and destroy the Ukrainian armed forces. David Axe, Forbes, 19 May 2022 In a war marked by Russia’s underperformance, by its inability to take Kyiv and its failed attempt to decapitate the Ukrainian leadership, control of the devastated metropolis amounts to a significant and horrific Kremlin victory. Washington Post, 24 Apr. 2022 His warnings have been echoed by Western officials who say Putin intends to decapitate Ukraine's pro-western government and possibly replace it with a Moscow-friendly regime. NBC News, 26 Feb. 2022 When the plants are new and tiny, Yiesla said, it’s enough to decapitate them with a hoe or cultivator that just skims the soil surface. Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 3 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin decapitatus, past participle of decapitare, from Latin de- + capit-, caput head — more at head
First Known Use
circa 1611, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
decapitate
verb
de·cap·i·tate di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of : behead
Medical Definition
decapitate 1 of 2
transitive verb
de·cap·i·tate di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of
decapitate
2 of 2adjective
de·cap·i·tate -ə-ˌtāt -ət-ət
-ət-ət : relating to or being a decapitated experimental animal
decapitator
noun
as in executioner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- executioner
- murderer
- assassin
- headsman
- slayer
- deathsman
- killer
- slaughterer
- butcher
- hangman
- executor
- manslayer
- cutthroat
- homicide
- massacrer
- murderess
