decimate
verb
dec·i·mate
ˈde-sə-ˌmāt 
decimated; decimating
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
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.
Examples of decimate in a Sentence
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
Outbreaks of the disease over the last three years have decimated nearly a quarter of the table egg-laying chicken population and brought the affordability and availability of eggs across the country down with it.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 20 Feb. 2025
One of several constrictors known to exist in the ‘glades, the python has decimated native species including rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and birds.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
The ranks of the Public Health Associate Program were also decimated by the layoffs.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Republicans also want to cut Medicaid, which will decimate KidCare and saddle huge nursing home costs for Florida’s families.
—Darren Soto, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
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Audrey Bruno, SELF, 20 Feb. 2025
One of several constrictors known to exist in the ‘glades, the python has decimated native species including rabbits, raccoons, opossums, and birds.
—Alan Clemons, Outdoor Life, 20 Feb. 2025
The ranks of the Public Health Associate Program were also decimated by the layoffs.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 17 Feb. 2025
Republicans also want to cut Medicaid, which will decimate KidCare and saddle huge nursing home costs for Florida’s families.
—Darren Soto, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimate
Articles Related to decimate
Cite this Entry
“Decimate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decimate
verb
dec·i·mate
ˈdes-ə-ˌmāt
decimated; decimating
1
: to pick by lot and kill every tenth man of
the Roman army would decimate a legion for cowardice
2
: to destroy a large part of
a population decimated by an epidemic
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