Thesaurus: decimate

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Definitions

1. v. t. To take the tenth part of; to tithe.
2. v. t. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny.
3. v. t. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.
4. v. kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies
5. v. kill in large numbers
6. 1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson. 2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay. 3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.
7. v:100 v. kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies