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Featured Word B2

decimated (Adjective / Past Participle)

To be severely reduced in number, strength, or effectiveness, or to be drastically damaged or destroyed. It is commonly used to describe populations, ecosystems, or organizations that have suffered significant losses.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of the 'DEC' in 'decimated' as the 'DEC' in 'decimal' or 'December' (the 10th month in the old Roman calendar). It...

🏛️ Origin

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Using it for a single object. → The population was decimated.

Insisting it only means 10%. → The forest was decimated (meaning mostly destroyed).

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