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
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
The team, plagued by sloppy play and a decimated bullpen, is also 14-23 since June 13.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025
Meanwhile, thousands of aid trucks sit at the border, denied permission to enter, while bombs and bullets continue to rain down on the decimated enclave.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025
The furious river waters — which rose to 26 feet in 45 minutes in the predawn hours of July Fourth — decimated Camp Mystic, an all-girls’ Christian camp that generations of young girls have gone to over its 99 years.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for decimated
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 July 2025
The team, plagued by sloppy play and a decimated bullpen, is also 14-23 since June 13.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 July 2025
Meanwhile, thousands of aid trucks sit at the border, denied permission to enter, while bombs and bullets continue to rain down on the decimated enclave.
—Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025
The furious river waters — which rose to 26 feet in 45 minutes in the predawn hours of July Fourth — decimated Camp Mystic, an all-girls’ Christian camp that generations of young girls have gone to over its 99 years.
—Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 11 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 4 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share