decimate

About 0.10 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To kill one-tenth of (a group), as a military punishment in the Roman army selected by lot, usually carried out by the surviving soldiers.
2. verb To destroy or remove one-tenth of (something).
3. verb To devastate: to reduce or destroy significantly but not completely.
4. verb To exact a tithe or other 10% tax.
5. verb To tithe: to pay a 10% tax.
6. verb To divide into tenths; to decimalize.
7. verb To reduce to one-tenth: to destroy or remove nine-tenths of (something).
8. verb To replace (a high-resolution model) with another of lower but acceptable quality. (Usually algorithmically)

Similar words

carry off eliminate annihilate eradicate extinguish wipe out reduce devastate destroy ruin

Often followed by

the a their them his our and an your

Word family

decimated decimates decimating decimation decimations