Decimated - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Decimated means to severely reduce or destroy a large portion of something, often implying near-total devastation. Originally, it referred to killing one in ten soldiers as punishment.
Definition:
To destroy or severely reduce a large portion of something.
Synonyms:
devastated, annihilated, ravaged, obliterated
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
preserved, restored
Common Collocations:
population decimated, army decimated, forest decimated, crops decimated
Derivatives:
decimation, decimating
Usage Tips:
Use "decimated" for severe destruction or reduction, often implying significant loss or damage.
Common Phrases:
decimated by disease, decimated in battle, decimated to ruins
Etymology:
From Latin "decimare," meaning to kill one in ten as punishment in Roman armies.
Examples:
- 1. The hurricane decimated the coastal town overnight.
- 2. Disease decimated the deer population last winter.
- 3. The invading army decimated the village's defenses quickly.
- 4. Wildfires have decimated thousands of acres of forest this year.