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
Taylor was decapitated and her arms were severed from her torso, possibly in an attempt to hide her identity, according to court documents.
—
Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
This was the most dramatic move in Xi’s campaign to reshape the military’s leadership, which has effectively decapitated the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Most notably, Israel decapitated Iran’s close ally Hezbollah in Lebanon in September–November, which in turn facilitated Ahmed al-Sharaa’s toppling of pro-Iran Syrian Pres.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Matt is just another little boy spending his days decapitating daffodils, driven by a prepubescent need to get attention and assert his will.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decapitate
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Emily Shapiro, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
This was the most dramatic move in Xi’s campaign to reshape the military’s leadership, which has effectively decapitated the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Most notably, Israel decapitated Iran’s close ally Hezbollah in Lebanon in September–November, which in turn facilitated Ahmed al-Sharaa’s toppling of pro-Iran Syrian Pres.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
Matt is just another little boy spending his days decapitating daffodils, driven by a prepubescent need to get attention and assert his will.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 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 8 Apr. 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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