decimate
verb (used with object)
to kill or destroy a great number or proportion of.
have decimated
-
present perfectof decimate.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Boycotts of U.S. whiskey have decimated a key economic driver for the American South.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026
The blackouts and lack of jet fuel have decimated tourism, a key source of revenue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 16, 2026
It is the packed schedule, Guardiola believes, that has led to the injuries that have decimated his squad.
From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2024
Habitat destruction, damming, and pollution have decimated local populations, such that many species are in dire need of help.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024
In the year 1791, the trade, which had flourished briskly between Santo Domingo and New Orleans, was closed because of the uprising, and but for Philadelphia, famine would have decimated the city.
From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 1, January 1916 by Various
