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
Can anyone imagine what New York would become if the police force was decimated by a socialist politician?
—
Nicole Russell, USA Today, 31 July 2025
In an inordinately cowardly and cruel act, Rubio stayed away from the department that day, ignoring the men and women whose careers and life plans were decimated by his flippant decision-making.
—Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025
But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025
Yet, his performance is a bit overshadowed by the impact of Robert De Niro as Ernest's malevolent uncle and particularly Lily Gladstone as his wife, Mollie, who sees her entire family decimated and nearly becomes a victim herself.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Nicole Russell, USA Today, 31 July 2025
In an inordinately cowardly and cruel act, Rubio stayed away from the department that day, ignoring the men and women whose careers and life plans were decimated by his flippant decision-making.
—Lynn Northcutt Vega, Sun Sentinel, 29 July 2025
But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 July 2025
Yet, his performance is a bit overshadowed by the impact of Robert De Niro as Ernest's malevolent uncle and particularly Lily Gladstone as his wife, Mollie, who sees her entire family decimated and nearly becomes a victim herself.
—Derek Lawrence, EW.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decimate
Verb
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Protective sand dunes could be inundated and destroyed, which could lead to severe flooding inland, National Park Service officials at Cape Hatteras National Seashore warned Monday.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
19 Aug. 2025
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Large dangerous waves will likely inundate and destroy protective dune structures.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Officials gathered Monday at a shopping center in Seymour that was devastated on Aug. 18, 2024 by massive flooding and mud that damaged multiple stores in the plaza and knocked them out of business for months and more.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
19 Aug. 2025
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Some movies aim to entertain, while others devastate.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even an old grain silo near the former Nickel Plate train station raised a few hackles when it was demolished.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
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When a building gets demolished, what happens to all that concrete, glass, stone or metal?—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But true evil transcends death…As Gwen begins to receive calls in her dreams from the black phone and experience disturbing visions, her determination to solve the mystery will lead her and Finn to a snowed-in winter camp and a shattering discovery about the Grabber and their own family’s history.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Aug. 2025
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What is there to say when our souls have been shattered day after day, week after week, year after year?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The chief said the suspect wrecked the vehicle before taking a Volkswagen from a car dealership.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
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Houses and sections of a port have been wrecked or swept out to sea.—
Robin George Andrews,
Scientific American,
30 July 2025
Verb
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By then, there were two outs, Jesse Winker was on second and came home on an RBI single by Starling Marte, dramatically smashing his helmet at home plate, punctuating a two-run lead.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 Aug. 2025
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The Capitol building had been breached two hours earlier, with doors knocked off hinges and windows smashed.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decimate. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
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