1. the killing or destruction of a large proportion of a group or population
2. severe reduction in number or amount
3. the historical Roman military punishment of executing every tenth soldier
Usage: historical

Examples

• The disease caused decimation of the local wildlife population.
• War led to the decimation of entire villages.
• The economic crisis resulted in decimation of the workforce.
• Overfishing caused decimation of fish stocks in the region.
• The hurricane brought decimation to the coastal communities.
• Roman generals used decimation as punishment for cowardly legions.
• The decimation of the forest happened within just a few years.