noun a historical term meaning to kill one in every ten of a group
verb to destroy or kill a large portion of something
In military contexts, 'decimate' is often used to describe the act of destroying a large portion of an enemy force, typically around one-tenth.
Historically, 'decimate' referred to the Roman practice of punishing a group of soldiers by killing every tenth man as a form of discipline.
In environmental science, 'decimate' may be used to describe the devastating impact of a natural disaster on a particular ecosystem or species.
In economics, 'decimate' can be used to describe a significant loss or reduction in value, such as a stock market crash decimating an investment portfolio.
In epidemiology, 'decimate' can be used to describe a disease or virus that greatly reduces the population of a specific group or species.
In the world of fiction writing, the author decided to decimate the main character's reputation in order to create more conflict and tension.
The psychologist noted that the traumatic event had the potential to decimate the patient's mental health if left untreated.
The military strategist proposed a plan to decimate the enemy forces by targeting their supply lines and cutting off their resources.
The economist warned that the new trade policies could decimate the country's manufacturing sector and lead to widespread job losses.
The environmental scientist studied the impact of deforestation on local wildlife and concluded that it could decimate certain species if not addressed.
The healthcare administrator feared that budget cuts would decimate the hospital's ability to provide quality care to patients.
The historian researched the effects of the Black Death on European populations and found that it had the potential to decimate entire communities.
The human resources manager was concerned that layoffs would decimate employee morale and lead to a decrease in productivity.
The political analyst predicted that a corruption scandal could decimate a politician's chances of winning re-election.
The technology developer recognized that a security breach could decimate consumer trust in their product and damage their brand reputation.