decapitate
verb
de·cap·i·tate
di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt 
dē-
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of : behead
Did you know?
Decapitation is a quick and fairly painless way to go, so it was once considered suitable only for nobles like Sir Walter Raleigh, Mary Queen of Scots, and two of Henry VIII's unfortunate wives. The invention of the guillotine in the 18th century was meant to make execution swifter and more painless than hanging or a badly aimed blow by the executioner's sword.
Examples of decapitate in a Sentence
a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated
Recent Examples on the Web
After decapitating the body, Kennedy tied the head to the top of the family's minivan with a bungee cord, making for a less-than-pleasant five-hour drive back home to Mount Kisco, New York, according to her recollection.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Vahidi’s rise to become one of Iran’s top decision-makers shows that US and Israeli efforts to decapitate the country’s leadership have not produced a more moderate ruling echelon.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Instead of throwing a ball around in the backyard, Sidious taught Maul how to decapitate his enemies.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026
After at least two days, the child died, and Harrell Johnson decapitated her with hedge trimmers.
—Caroline Zimmerman
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decapitate
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Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 26 May 2026
Vahidi’s rise to become one of Iran’s top decision-makers shows that US and Israeli efforts to decapitate the country’s leadership have not produced a more moderate ruling echelon.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Instead of throwing a ball around in the backyard, Sidious taught Maul how to decapitate his enemies.
—Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 19 May 2026
After at least two days, the child died, and Harrell Johnson decapitated her with hedge trimmers.
—Caroline Zimmerman
may 18, Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for decapitate
Cite this Entry
“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decapitate. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decapitate
verb
de·cap·i·tate
di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of : behead
Etymology
derived from Latin decapitare "to cut off the head of," from de- "from, away" and caput "head" — related to capital
Medical Definition
decapitate
1 of 2 transitive verb
de·cap·i·tate
di-ˈkap-ə-ˌtāt
decapitated; decapitating
: to cut off the head of
: relating to or being a decapitated experimental animal
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