decimation

[ des-uh-mey-shuhn ]

/ ˌdɛs əˈmeɪ ʃən /

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noun

the destruction of a great number or proportion of people, animals, or things:There is growing evidence that pesticide use is contributing significantly to the decimation of bee populations.

the act or practice of killing one-tenth of a population, as a punishment, to cull wild animals, or for other purposes:The Roman Empire used decimation, executing 1 in 10 people—ordinary citizens, slaves, or soldiers—to quell mutinies, riots, and other uprisings.

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Origin of decimation

First recorded in 1450–1500, for an earlier sense; from Latin decimātiōn-, stem of decimātiō “a punishing of every tenth man”; see decimate, -ion

Words nearby decimation

decimal point, decimals, decimal system, decimate, decimated, decimation, décime, decimeter, decimetre, decimus, decinormal

How to use decimation in a sentence

As this pandemic continues to decimate the livelihoods of countless independent musicians, Swift has sold more albums inside this calendar year than anyone else on Earth.
Taylor Swift really can’t help herself|Chris Richards|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
With the pandemic decimating ridership and fare revenue, the agency is looking to cut one-quarter of its $2 billion in annual operating expenses from next year’s budget.
Metro board moves ‘doomsday’ budget forward to accept public comments|Justin George|December 11, 2020|Washington Post
From coast to coast, transit agencies are planning for layoffs and pared-down service as the coronavirus pandemic decimates budgets and a federal stimulus package remains stalled in Congress.
Transit system service cuts proposed in Congress’s backyard elicit calls for more funding|Justin George, Lori Aratani, Meagan Flynn|December 2, 2020|Washington Post
In the past six months, companies ranging from Uber to NBCUniversal to Boeing have laid off employees, as industry after industry has been decimated.
Can Patreon and Twitch Drive the New Gig Economy?|Charu Kasturi|September 22, 2020|Ozy

Free sampling — an age-old marketing tactic — has been decimated by store closures and lockdown mandates from coronavirus.
‘No brainer’: Marie Claire launches sampling business to boost revenue and data practice|Lucinda Southern|August 3, 2020|Digiday
But the site has seen little of the decimation from heavy tourism that has plagued the northern pyramids of Giza in Egypt.
Egypt Ain’t The Only Pyramid Show In Town|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Texas, the grave consequences of the decimation of state family-planning funds in 2011 are already evident.
Isabel Allende: How a Mysterious Baby Girl Sparked My Fight for Women|Isabel Allende|October 20, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Shirt-tail battalion and the bluegrass battalion stood in peril of decimation in their maiden engagement.
The Code of the Mountains|Charles Neville Buck
The Texans in their escape and conflicts had lost five men, and Santa Anna demanded the decimation of the rest.
Graham's Magazine Vol XXXII No. 6 June 1848|Various
It is only because of the large families that they rear, that they are able to withstand this yearly decimation of their ranks.
The Bird Book|Chester A. Reed
We should not be surprised if at least one part of the mysterious decimation turned out to be an early act of beneficial hidation.
Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland
Sometimes the inroads of tigers cause the abandonment of an entire village, the natives preferring exile to gradual decimation.
Indo-China and Its Primitive People|Henry Baudesson

decimation

Origin of decimation

Words nearby decimation

Words related to decimation

How to use decimation in a sentence