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
Everyday there’s a new story on how AI isn’t just disrupting the creative industry but decimating it.
—
Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Because of high inflation during the War, returning to gold at the old exchange rate overvalued the British pound, which risked decimating Britain’s export industries, forcing employers to impose huge wage cuts, and impoverishing British workers.
—Time, 23 May 2025
The alert system has been under scrutiny since the January wildfires after the county failed for hours to send alerts to parts of Altadena decimated by flames and later sent out glitchy alerts to residents in unaffected areas.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Ash trees were planted in many urban forests in Minnesota to replace elm trees decimated by Dutch elm disease, Venette said.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Because of high inflation during the War, returning to gold at the old exchange rate overvalued the British pound, which risked decimating Britain’s export industries, forcing employers to impose huge wage cuts, and impoverishing British workers.
—Time, 23 May 2025
The alert system has been under scrutiny since the January wildfires after the county failed for hours to send alerts to parts of Altadena decimated by flames and later sent out glitchy alerts to residents in unaffected areas.
—Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Ash trees were planted in many urban forests in Minnesota to replace elm trees decimated by Dutch elm disease, Venette said.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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The first move for a mistrial from Combs’ legal team occurred at the end of May, after prosecutors asked Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigator Lance Jimenez if fingerprint evidence related to the bombing of Kid Cudi's car had been destroyed.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
8 June 2025
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If trillion-dollar bonds are required to contest trillion-dollar damages our government is causing, that destroys the protections our Constitution provides its citizens against the rule of tyrants.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 June 2025
Verb
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Chimney Rock State Park is set to reopen exactly nine months after being devastated by Hurricane Helene.—
Meghan Overdeep,
Southern Living,
6 June 2025
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While Michael has not addressed these allegations, we are devastated by even the implications.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 June 2025
Verb
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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
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Sara Schilling,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Verb
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In 2012, Texas Wesleyan went to the city’s historic and cultural landmarks commission seeking permission to demolish the home for further campus expansion, but were denied.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2025
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Goldschmidt has demolished the NL Central in his career, with a slash line of .291/.388/.527 in almost 550 games played.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 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 militia’s rank and file, meanwhile, was shattered first by pagers, then walkie-talkies that detonated in their hands, having been boobytrapped by Mossad.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
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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Two weeks ago, vandals threw bricks through the front office window, smashing a few items inside.—
Rachel Uranga,
Los Angeles Times,
12 June 2025
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At least two separate crews used landscaping rocks to smash windows and enter the businesses, police said.—
Dennis Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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