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 fierce winds and storm surge that barrelled through here have decimated nearly everything, leaving roads unusable and a trail of destruction that has them increasingly desperate and isolated with no electricity or running water.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025
Bonta said firestorms that have decimated some areas of L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2025
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
To complete the disaster, it is not unusual for the grub-eaters, the Leucopsis and her rival, the pygmy Chalcis, to have decimated the other half.
From The Mason-Bees by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos
