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decimate

/ˈdɛs.ɪ.meɪt/

Translations

decimateverb

decimated

Past Simple

decimated

Past Participle

decimating

Gerund

/ˈdɛs.ɪ.meɪt/

décimerSens courant; se dit d’une forte destruction ou d’une réduction très importante.

The hurricane managed to decimate the coastal town, leaving few buildings standing.

L’ouragan a réussi à décimer la ville côtière, ne laissant que peu de bâtiments debout.

Additional translations

ravagerQuand l’idée principale est une destruction massive, notamment par une catastrophe ou une guerre.

anéantirQuand le sens porte sur l’affaiblissement extrême d’un groupe, d’une force ou d’une activité.

Synonyms

decimateverb

To destroy a large portion of something.

The hurricane managed to decimate the coastal town, leaving few buildings standing.

To drastically reduce the strength or effectiveness of something.

The new regulations could decimate the company's profits if implemented.

To kill one in every ten of a group, originally as a form of military discipline.

In ancient times, the Roman army would decimate a unit as punishment for cowardice.