decimated
C1Formal, journalistic, academic
Definition
Meaning
To kill, destroy, or remove a large proportion of something; originally to kill one in every ten.
To cause severe damage to, drastically reduce, or severely weaken something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Although its historical root means to kill one-tenth, modern usage typically implies a much larger, severe reduction (e.g., 50-90%), leading to purist objections. It conveys catastrophic impact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage; used similarly in both variants.
Connotations
Strong connotation of severe, often irreversible destruction or loss.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American media and political discourse, but well-established in UK English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] decimated [Object][Object] was decimated by [Agent/Cause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'decimated'; used literally.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The company's market share was decimated by the new competitor.
Academic
The endemic species was decimated following the introduction of the invasive predator.
Everyday
The team's morale was decimated after their star player got injured.
Technical
The viral infection decimated over 70% of the server cluster's nodes.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hurricane decimated the coastal villages.
- Their savings were decimated by the financial crisis.
American English
- The wildfire decimated the town's infrastructure.
- The layoffs decimated the company's middle management.
adjective
British English
- The decimated battalion retreated.
- A decimated population of birds struggled to recover.
American English
- The decimated team had to forfeit.
- Decimated forests led to increased erosion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad weather decimated our picnic plans.
- The disease decimated many trees in the park.
- The scandal decimated the politician's public support almost overnight.
- Critics argue that austerity policies have decimated essential public services without fostering growth.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think DECImated – linked to DECImal (base ten) – originally one in TEN killed.
Conceptual Metaphor
WAR (an army decimated), DISEASE (a population decimated), NATURAL DISASTER.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'уничтожить' (annihilate) which implies 100% destruction; decimated implies a large, severe, but not necessarily total, reduction.
- Avoid literal 'уничтожить одну десятую' – it's archaic.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'decimated' to mean 'completely destroyed' (although common, purists object).
- Using 'decimated' for trivial reductions (e.g., 'Our budget was decimated by 5%').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'decimated' most appropriately according to its core modern meaning?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its original Roman military meaning was to kill one in ten as punishment. In modern English, it almost always means to destroy or severely reduce a large proportion, often much more than 10%.
Many usage guides and purists consider it incorrect because it contradicts the etymological 'tenth'. However, in common journalistic and general usage, it is frequently used to mean 'devastated' or 'extremely severely reduced', and this meaning is now standard in dictionaries.
Yes, this is very common in modern usage. Examples: 'Team morale was decimated after the loss.' 'The new tax decimated our profits.'
'Devastated', 'ravaged', 'severely reduced', or 'culled' (though 'culled' also has specific connotations) are strong, less controversial alternatives.
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