decimate

/ˈdesɪmeɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈdesɪmeɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈde-sə-ˌmāt/ (ame, mw)

decimate — verb

  • decimatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • decimateshe / she / it
  • decimatedpast simple
  • decimating-ing form

1. to wipe out many living things, or to leave a group, business, or system much sm

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to wipe out many living things, or to leave a group, business, or system much smaller and weaker than before.

例句

A wildfire decimated hundreds of pine trees on the hillside.

decimate + large group of living things

Cheap imports decimated the town's small shoe factories within two years.

severely reduce a local industry

同義詞
  • devastate

    stresses severe destruction or ruin, often with a broader emotional or physical effect

  • ravage

    often used when war, fire, or disease spreads through an area and causes widespread damage

  • wipe out

    more direct and often closer to complete destruction or removal

反義詞
  • rebuild

    focuses on restoring something after severe damage

  • strengthen

    means making a group or system more solid instead of badly reducing it

文法句型

decimate + population / forest / workforce

be decimated by + disease / war / cuts

用法筆記

Often used for disease, war, natural disasters, or sharp economic damage affecting large groups. It is much stronger than reduce and usually suggests a sudden, serious loss.

常見錯誤

❌We decimated our homework list by doing two easy tasks.
✅We reduced our homework list by doing two easy tasks.
💡decimate is used for very large or damaging reductions, not small everyday changes.