decimate
6 synonyms for decimate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To destroy or reduce a large part of something.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use decimate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
decimate the population
decimate an industry
decimated by disease
Etymology
From Latin decimare, "to take a tenth" or "to punish by killing one in ten" — from decimus, "tenth." The word originally referred to this specific Roman military punishment before broadening to mean severe destruction generally.
Full origin of decimate →Frequently asked questions
What does “decimate” mean?
The word “decimate” means to destroy or reduce a large part of something. In plain terms, to wipe out a huge portion of something — used loosely today to mean "devastate" rather than the strict "one in ten.".
How do you pronounce “decimate”?
“Decimate” is pronounced DEH-sih-mayt (/ˈdɛsəmeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “decimate” in a sentence?
Here is “decimate” used in a sentence: “The wildfire decimated the local wildlife population.”
What part of speech is “decimate”?
“Decimate” is a verb.
Where does the word “decimate” come from?
The word “decimate” comes from Latin.
How many meanings does “decimate” have?
“Decimate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to destroy or reduce a large part of something.
