Decimate

Pronunciation: /ˈdɛsəˌmeɪt/

Decimate (verb)

  1. to destroy or kill a large part of something.
  2. to reduce something by ten percent.

Examples

  • The storm could decimate the coastal towns.
  • A severe drought may decimate the crops.

Common collocations: decimate a population, decimate resources, decimate an area, decimate costs, decimate numbers

Synonyms of Decimate

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Decimate

  • when discussing maintaining or saving something
  • when discussing creating or constructing something