Decimate: meaning, definitions and examples

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decimate

 

[ หˆdษ›s.ษช.meษชt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

destruction scale

To decimate means to destroy a large portion of something or significantly reduce its strength or effectiveness. Originally, it referred specifically to the Roman military punishment of killing one in every ten soldiers in a mutinous group. In modern usage, it often applies to widespread devastation, such as that caused by natural disasters or warfare. The term conveys a sense of great loss or destruction, often implying that the remaining part is severely weakened.

Synonyms

annihilate, destroy, devastate, exterminate, obliterate

Examples of usage

  • The hurricane decimated the coastal town.
  • The disease decimated the population of the region.
  • Overfishing has decimated fish populations worldwide.

Translations

Translations of the word "decimate" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น decimar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคจเคทเฅเคŸ เค•เคฐเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช decimieren

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menghancurkan

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะธะฝะธั‰ะธั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ dziesiฤ…tkowaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅฃŠๆป…ใ•ใ›ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท dรฉcimer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ diezmar

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รงok sayฤฑda รถldรผrmek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋Œ€๋Ÿ‰์œผ๋กœ ์ œ๊ฑฐํ•˜๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุฅุจุงุฏุฉ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ decimovat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ decimovaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคง่ง„ๆจกๆฏ็ญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ decimirati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ draga

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะพัŽ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ›แƒแƒชแƒ”แƒ›แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ decimษ™

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ diezmar

Word origin

The word 'decimate' comes from the Latin term 'decimare', meaning 'to take a tenth'. It was initially used to describe a form of punishment used by the Roman army to deter rebellions. This punishment involved the execution of one in every ten soldiers in a unit that had displayed cowardice or insubordination. Over the centuries, the meaning of 'decimate' evolved from this specific military context to a more general sense of significant destruction or reduction. By the 17th century, the term started being used to describe devastations caused by natural disasters, plagues, and wars, indicating significant loss or depletion rather than just a literal one-tenth of a group. Today, while 'decimate' can still refer to a precise mathematical reduction to one-tenth, it is more commonly used to indicate drastic impact and destruction to a larger scale.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #34,251 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.