decimate

• Verbe signifiant détruire ou tuer une grande partie de quelque chose, ou réduire sévèrement le nombre ou la force.

A verb meaning to destroy or kill a large proportion of something, or to drastically reduce in number or strength.

1. Kill one in tenC2formal

   Historically, to select by lot and kill every tenth person, especially as a punishment in the Roman army.

   Décimer (sens historique)

   • The Roman general ordered the legion to be decimated for their mutiny.
   • Decimation was a brutal punishment used to maintain discipline.
   • The soldiers were decimated as a warning to others.

2. Kill or destroy a large portionB2formal

   To kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage of a group or population.

   décimer

   • The plague decimated the population of the village.
   • The hurricane decimated the coastal town.
   • The invasive species decimated the local fish population.

   Synonymesannihilatedevastateexterminatemassacreravageslaughterwipe out

   Antonymespreserveprotectsavespare