decapitate

American  

[dih-kap-i-teyt] / dɪˈkæp ɪˌteɪt /

verb (used with object)

decapitated, decapitating

1. to cut off the head of; behead.

   Many people were decapitated during the French Revolution.

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decapitate British  

/ dɪˈkæpɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to behead

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Other Word Forms

• decapitation noun
• decapitator noun

Etymology

Origin of decapitate

1605–15; < Late Latin dēcapitātus, past participle of dēcapitāre, equivalent to dē- de- + capit- (stem of caput ) head + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Mr. Rubio said Sunday it was unrealistic to take more risks in the raid to decapitate more of the regime, which is fair enough.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 4, 2026

“I currently know that he did not decapitate it, even though he said that’s what he was doing, so that’s what I had assumed that he did,” she said Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 2, 2025

El Nino’s warmer waters makes warmer air over the Pacific reach higher up in the atmosphere, influencing winds and creating strong upper level winds that can decapitate storms, killing them, Klotzbach said.

From Seattle Times • May 25, 2023

If the plotters had hoped to decapitate the Nazis, the attempt had the opposite effect: Hitler’s doctor recalled him saying over and over, “I am invulnerable. I am immortal,” according to Moorhouse.

From Washington Post • Aug. 9, 2022

The poor truck was rattling to the point I expected the hood to fly off and decapitate a couple of pine trees.

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd