be decimated

USAGE SUMMARY

"be decimated" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where a large portion of something is destroyed or severely reduced. Example: "The population of the species was decimated by habitat loss." Alternative expressions include "be devastated" and "be annihilated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Civil society, however, would be decimated.

The Guardian

So the intent of Pakistan has to be decimated.

The New York Times

"We'll be decimated," says chief executive Barry Lyon.

The Guardian

This golf course is not going to be decimated this week".

The New York Times - Sports

Without CAFTA, Central America's textile industry is likely to be decimated by Chinese competition.

The Economist

And that can only be decimated when the Kashmir resolution takes place.

The New York Times

"The real estate industry will be decimated if the carried interest taxation concept becomes law".

The New York Times

Some of my favorite cities would be decimated by such an open season on self-loathing.

The New York Times - Books

It would help maintain the social capital that's about to be decimated by the economic downturn.

The New York Times

If it was, everyone would demand deletions from news websites and online journalism would be decimated.

The Guardian

Sales used to be decimated by a leak, whereas now it just doesn't matter.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be decimated" when you want to convey a significant reduction or destruction, often associated with a large proportion, though not necessarily exactly one-tenth, of something. Ensure the context aligns with the sense of substantial loss or damage.

Common error

Avoid using "be decimated" to strictly mean a reduction by exactly 10%. While its origin refers to the killing of one-tenth, its modern usage implies a substantial reduction, not necessarily a precise percentage.

Linguistic Context

"Be decimated" functions as a passive verb phrase. It typically describes a situation where a population, entity, or resource has experienced a significant reduction or destruction. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in various contexts, like "Civil society, however, will be decimated."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

86%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Be decimated" is a passive verb phrase indicating a significant reduction or destruction, frequently used in news and media. Although originating from the historical practice of reducing a group by one-tenth, its modern usage implies a substantial loss rather than a precise ratio. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. When writing, focus on conveying a severe reduction and avoid using it for minor decreases. Alternatives such as "be destroyed" or "be devastated" offer varying degrees of emphasis and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be destroyed

A general term for ruin, but not specific about the percentage of destruction.

be devastated

Implies emotional impact and widespread destruction, but not necessarily a tenth.

be wiped out

Suggests complete elimination, stronger than "be decimated".

be eradicated

Implies complete removal of something undesirable.

be eliminated

Suggests a removal, often in a controlled or systematic way.

be severely reduced

Focuses on the decrease in number or size, lacking the intensity of destruction.

be substantially decreased

Emphasizes the significant drop in quantity or value.

be significantly diminished

Highlights the reduction in importance or effectiveness.

be ravaged

Implies violent and widespread destruction, but not measured.

be impaired

Focuses on functionality being reduced or compromised rather than outright destruction.

FAQs

How can I use "be decimated" in a sentence?

You can use "be decimated" to describe a situation where something has been severely reduced or destroyed. For instance, "The forest was decimated by the wildfire" or "The company's profits were decimated by the economic downturn".

What's the difference between "be decimated" and "be destroyed"?

"Be decimated" implies a significant reduction or partial destruction, while "be destroyed" suggests complete ruin or obliteration. "Be decimated" suggests a part remains, whereas "be destroyed" implies nothing is left.

Are there any alternatives to "be decimated"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use phrases like "be devastated", "be severely reduced", or "be wiped out".

Is it correct to use "be decimated" if something is reduced by more than 10%?

Yes, while the origin refers to one-tenth, modern usage allows "be decimated" to describe a significant reduction, even if it's more than 10%. The key is that a substantial portion is affected.