decimates

Wipes almost out

Decimates means to destroy or kill a large portion of something.

The word originally referred to the Roman military punishment of executing one soldier in ten, but modern usage has shifted to mean severe destruction generally: The hurricane decimated the coastal towns.

Purists object to using decimate for total destruction, but this distinction has largely faded from common speech.

destruction

annihilates

Destroys utterly and completely

devastatesDestroys thoroughly and completely
ravagesDestructive effects over time
obliteratesDestroys completely

destroys · wipes out · ruins · demolishes · lays waste · eradicates · razes · crushes · pulverizes · levels

defeat

routs

Decisive, overwhelming defeats

trouncesDefeats overwhelmingly
crushesCompresses with force
overwhelmsConquers by superior force

thrashes · demolishes · dominates · overpowers · shellacs · humiliates · steamrolls · annihilates · blows out · conquers

historical

tithe

Tenth for clergy

tenthOrdinal for position nine-plus-one
RomanOf ancient Italy's capital
legionGreat number, or soldiers

punishment · military · discipline · execution · lots · lottery · cohort · mutiny · cowardice · centurion

reduction

depletes

Uses until gone

diminishesBecomes smaller or weaker
slashesDiagonal line marks
gutsEntrails or boldness

cuts · shrinks · reduces · drains · erodes · whittles · thins · culls · strips · bleeds

Opposites

destruction/preservation

decimatespreserves

Cooked fruit in sugar

protects · safeguards · conserves · saves · shields

population change

decimatesmultiplies

Performs times operations

proliferates · replenishes · repopulates · expands · increases

strength/condition

decimatesstrengthens

Increases force or durability

fortifies · bolsters · reinforces · invigorates · empowers

Family

decimate, decimated, decimation, decimating, decimator, decimations, decimators

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Everyday, not technical · Rated PG