decimate
verb
dec·i·mate ˈde-sə-ˌmāt 
decimated; decimating
transitive verb
1
: to select by lot and kill every tenth man of
decimate a regiment
2
: to exact a tax of 10 percent from
poor as a decimated Cavalier
John Dryden
John Dryden3
a
: to reduce drastically especially in number
cholera decimated the population
Kamieniecki's return comes at a crucial time for a pitching staff that has been decimated by injuries. Jason Diamos
Jason Diamos b
: to cause great destruction or harm to
firebombs decimated the city
an industry decimated by recession
decimation
ˌde-sə-ˈmā-shən
noun 
Did you know?
The connection between decimate and the number ten harks back to a brutal practice of the army of ancient Rome. A unit that was guilty of a severe crime (such as mutiny) was punished by selecting and executing one-tenth of its soldiers, thereby scaring the remaining nine-tenths into obedience. The word comes from Latin decem, meaning "ten." Decimate strayed from its "tenth" meaning and nowadays refers to the act of destroying or hurting something in great numbers.
Synonyms
- annihilate
- cream
- demolish
- desolate
- destroy
- devastate
- do in
- extinguish
- nuke
- pull down
- pulverize
- raze
- rub out
- ruin
- shatter
- smash
- tear down
- total
- vaporize
- waste
- wrack
- wreck
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
This kind of moth is responsible for decimating thousands of trees in our town. Budget cuts have decimated public services in small towns.
Recent Examples on the Web Unexpected events can decimate demand and disrupt operations for years. Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 The mass flight of human capital—tech workers, academics, journalists, and anti-war activists—could decimate certain sectors and hurt a Russian economy that’s already reeling and largely cut off from international trade and business. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2022 Russia’s current, large-scale brain drain of young, skilled and educated citizens, could decimate sectors from journalism, to academia, and technology, experts say. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2022 Only option is a trade that could decimate the Heat’s younger players. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2022 The lives of two women intersect through crisis after disasters due to climate change and government neglect decimate the impoverished mountainsides of western Puerto Rico. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 July 2022 The lives of two women intersect through crisis after disasters due to climate change and government neglect decimate the impoverished mountainsides of western Puerto Rico. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2022 Canadian officials fear Biden’s proposal could decimate the country’s automobile sector. Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2022 Sniper rifles trade a rapid rate of fire for accuracy and range, and are meant to decimate enemy forces by eliminating select targets (such as field commanders) and supporting weapon handlers, radiomen, and others. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2022 See More
Kelly Yamanouchi, ajc, 8 Sep. 2022 The mass flight of human capital—tech workers, academics, journalists, and anti-war activists—could decimate certain sectors and hurt a Russian economy that’s already reeling and largely cut off from international trade and business. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2022 Russia’s current, large-scale brain drain of young, skilled and educated citizens, could decimate sectors from journalism, to academia, and technology, experts say. Yvonne Lau, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2022 Only option is a trade that could decimate the Heat’s younger players. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2022 The lives of two women intersect through crisis after disasters due to climate change and government neglect decimate the impoverished mountainsides of western Puerto Rico. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 25 July 2022 The lives of two women intersect through crisis after disasters due to climate change and government neglect decimate the impoverished mountainsides of western Puerto Rico. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2022 Canadian officials fear Biden’s proposal could decimate the country’s automobile sector. Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2022 Sniper rifles trade a rapid rate of fire for accuracy and range, and are meant to decimate enemy forces by eliminating select targets (such as field commanders) and supporting weapon handlers, radiomen, and others. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 2 Mar. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin decimatus, past participle of decimare, from decimus tenth, from decem ten
First Known Use
1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
decimate
verb
dec·i·mate
ˈde-sə-ˌmāt
decimated; decimating
1
: to destroy a large number of
The insects decimated thousands of trees.
2
: to severely damage or destroy a large part of
decimation
noun
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the virtual decimation of the coastal town by the hurricane Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- destruction
- devastation
- extinction
- demolition
- extermination
- havoc
- annihilation
- loss
- obliteration
- ruination
- demolishment
- wastage
- disintegration
- ruin
- collapse
- slaughter
- depredation
- desolation
- wreckage
- massacre
- despoliation
- mincemeat
- dissolution
- killing
- breakup
- execution
- assassination
- eradication
- despoilment
- dismantlement
- effacement
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- construction
- building
- saving
- raising
- preservation
- salvation
- erection
- rescue
- protection
- conservation
- restoration
- salvage
- reconstruction
- reclamation
- renovation
- remodeling
- re-creation
- refurbishment
- regeneracy