Definition of Decimate – Vocabulary in Context

Definition of Decimate in real context with illustrations for advanced English learners

/ˈdes.ɪ.meɪt/ (verb)

Definition

to destroy or kill a large population of people or things, annihilate, demolish, ruin, massacre, exterminate, raze, wipe out, slaughter, cut down, devastate

Example

Extinction occurs when species are diminished or decimated because of environmental forces (habitat fragmentation, global change, natural disaster, overexploitation of species for human use) or because of evolutionary changes in their members (genetic inbreeding, poor reproduction, decline in population numbers).

Source: https://www.britannica.com/

Parts of speech

Noun: decimation

Noun: decimator