1. To drastically reduce the number of people or of things: Health experts say that smoking has decimated the lives of many people with lung cancer.

The lack of rain can decimate many agricultural products of farmers.

2. To cause extensive harm or damage: The more elderly people become older, the more they decimate their physical and mental conditions.
3. To severely damage or to destroy a large part of something: Throughout history, many people have been decimated as a result of wars.

There are some linguists who argue that decimate should refer to people and not to things or animals; such as, weeds or insects.

© ALL rights are reserved.

Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.