to decimate

Examples

• All

• The rays decimated the mollusk population and destroyed the mussel and scallop industry.

• Since its passage in October 2001, the Patriot Act has decimated many basic American civil liberties.

  Academic text (2004)

• Mr. President, I'll ask you once again: Sign the surrender, or I will decimate this town!

  Wild Wild West (1999)

• If it spreads too far, it can decimate the population.

  Abraham Lincoln vs. Zombies (2012)

• We were hungry when she came because our crops were decimated by war.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The construction of Interstate 5 decimated what remained of the Italian neighborhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

  Academic text (2008)

• Therefore, mismanagement of the freshwater resource could potentially decimate these populations.

  Academic text (2013)

• Moreover, there is no legitimate justification for invading Iraq, which would terrorize and decimate that country.

  Academic text (2002)

• The newcomers have nearly decimated the microflora of the lake and have begun to outcompete native fish species.

  Academic text (2002)

• The disease could decimate the bee population within just a few years.

Synonyms

E

to eliminate

vsto decimate

• NSFW

502 3.4

Remove or kill something completely so it is gone

highlights loss of a large proportion rather than total or targeted removal

W

to wipe out

vsto decimate

189 4.2

Destroy something so nothing is left

suggests a major proportional loss rather than always total removal

S

to slaughter

vsto decimate

• NSFW

158 5.7

To kill a large number of people in a violent way

focuses on reducing a large proportion rather than on indiscriminate brutality

A

to annihilate

vsto decimate

• NSFW

63 7.5

To destroy completely, often killing many people

means reducing a large proportion but not always total or absolute destruction

E

to exterminate

vsto decimate

• NSFW

60 6.9

To destroy something completely, often on purpose

implies a large proportional loss but not always complete eradication

K

to kill off

vsto decimate

44 4.8

Destroy almost all members of a group, like a type of animal or product

emphasizes a large proportion loss but can allow some survivors

P

to pulverize

vsto decimate

• US

15 7.6

To destroy something completely so nothing is left

means causing large proportional loss but not limited to physical pulverizing

E

to extinguish

vsto decimate

• Offensive

13 7.7

Kill an entire group of people or animals so none are left

is about cutting down a large proportion rather than necessarily full extinction

L

to liquidate

vsto decimate

• Offensive

9 9.3

To kill someone who is a threat

refers to reducing a large proportion rather than targeting individuals

D

to depopulate

vsto decimate

3 7.4

To reduce the number of people living in a place until few or none remain

focuses on loss across a population rather than complete physical destruction

Antonyms

P

to preserve

496 3.4

To keep people and things safe from harm or change

S

to spare

77 3.5

Decide not to hurt someone even though you could

S

to safeguard

45 3.7

To protect someone or something from harm

How Destructive

to annihilate

• NSFW

63 7.5

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to decimate

58 7.5

to cripple

72 6.3

to damage

885 1.4

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology