Decimate

Quick meaning: Decimate is a verb meaning To destroy or remove one-tenth of (something).

Meaning

To destroy or remove one-tenth of (something).

More Meanings

1. (loosely) To devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely.
2. (proscribed) To reduce to one-tenth: to destroy or remove nine-tenths of (something).
3. (computer graphics) To replace (a high-resolution model) with another of lower but acceptable quality. (Usually algorithmically)
4. (obsolete) To exact a tithe or other 10% tax.
5. (obsolete, rare) To tithe: to pay a 10% tax.
6. (obsolete) To divide into tenths; to decimalize.
7. (archaic) To kill one-tenth of (a group), (historical, specifically) as a military punishment in the Roman army selected by lot, usually carried out by the surviving soldiers.

Example Sentences

Um, some sort of power overload. I'm afraid it decimated your breakfast.

Shall we decimate them? That sounds good, nice word. Remove one-tenth of the population!

[England] had decimated itself for a question which involved no principle, and led to no result.

They can be devastating to certain plants if left uncontrolled: a downy mildew of grapes decimated European vineyards during the nineteenth century.

Word Forms

• decimates
• decimating
• decimated

Synonyms for decimate

Depending on context, synonyms include tithe, eradicate, eliminate, annihilate, extinguish, wipe out.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include eliminate, annihilate, eradicate, extinguish, wipe out, reduce.

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