decimated
adjective
dec·i·mat·ed
ˈde-sə-ˌmā-təd 
1
: drastically reduced especially in number
… the decimated population of Atlantic salmon that once gamboled in dozens of rivers in the northeastern United States …—
Pete Bodo
Pete BodoA denuded forest may one day regrow; the decimated culture that called it home sadly will not.—Stephen Messenger
Stephen Messenger2
: destroyed or significantly harmed
… its dusty streets, scattered with burned out vehicles and flanked on either side by decimated buildings.—Jay Akbar
Jay AkbarMany workers may want to delay retirement to replenish decimated 401(k) portfolios …—Emily Brandon
Emily BrandonCan we take as governor a man who'd give $46 million in public money to a bottling lobby, instead of using it to salvage decimated public programs?—David Nyhan
see also decimate
David NyhanExamples of decimated in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After reuniting with her brother and her mom Lisa – who was rescued from the wildfire by David Timoner – Ondi quickly regrouped and began to document the decimated community around her.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
An untold number of people were missing amid frantic searches of decimated structures.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
Patrick Somerville Deep in the peak of a variant spike in the pandemic, the HBO Max streaming service dropped its best original offering to date, a timely examination of the need for hope in a decimated world.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
The Dodgers, with a decimated starting rotation, pieced together five bullpen games in their three playoff series (15 total games) en route to winning last year’s World Series.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
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Matthew Carey, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025
An untold number of people were missing amid frantic searches of decimated structures.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2025
Patrick Somerville Deep in the peak of a variant spike in the pandemic, the HBO Max streaming service dropped its best original offering to date, a timely examination of the need for hope in a decimated world.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 1 Aug. 2025
The Dodgers, with a decimated starting rotation, pieced together five bullpen games in their three playoff series (15 total games) en route to winning last year’s World Series.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Cite this Entry
“Decimated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decimated. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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