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decimated

B2 Adjective / Past Participle #15 最常用 11分钟阅读

decimated

前15

开始练习例句笔记与提示 decimated 30秒了解

解析 decimated in your Level:

The word 'decimated' is a very big word that means 'many things are gone.' Imagine you have ten toys and someone takes away nine of them. Now you only have one toy left. Your toy collection was 'decimated.' It is a word we use when something very bad happens and a lot of things are broken or lost. For example, if a big storm comes and breaks many trees in a park, we can say the trees were decimated. It is a sad word because it means something that was big and strong is now small and weak. You don't need to use this word often when you are just starting to learn English, but it is good to know it means 'a very big loss.' You might see it in the news or in stories about history. Just remember: decimated = a lot of things are gone.

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In A2 English, 'decimated' is a word you might see when reading about nature or history. It means that a large part of something has been destroyed or killed. It comes from an old story about the Roman army, where they would punish a group by killing one out of every ten soldiers. Today, it usually means much more than one-tenth; it means almost everything is gone. If a disease kills many animals in a forest, the animal population is decimated. If a company loses almost all its money, its budget is decimated. It is a more serious and formal word than 'broken' or 'lost.' When you use it, you are telling the listener that the damage is very, very bad. It is usually used for groups of things, like 'the population,' 'the trees,' or 'the houses.'

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At the B1 level, you should understand that 'decimated' is a strong adjective used to describe severe destruction or a drastic reduction in numbers. It is more sophisticated than saying 'destroyed' or 'wiped out.' You will often hear it in the context of environmental issues, such as 'The coral reefs have been decimated by rising ocean temperatures.' It can also be used for abstract things like 'morale' or 'savings.' For example, 'The high cost of living has decimated my savings account.' Notice that it is often used in the passive voice ('was decimated' or 'has been decimated'). This focuses the sentence on the thing that suffered the loss. It is a useful word for writing essays about social or environmental problems because it conveys a sense of urgency and scale.

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As a B2 learner, you should be able to use 'decimated' to describe complex situations involving significant loss or damage. It is a key vocabulary item for discussing ecology, economics, and history. You should understand the nuance that while 'decimated' implies a massive reduction, it technically suggests that a remnant remains. This distinguishes it from 'annihilated,' which means total destruction. You will find 'decimated' in quality journalism and academic texts. For instance, 'The local economy was decimated by the closure of the steel mill, leading to widespread unemployment.' You should also be comfortable using it metaphorically, such as 'The team's confidence was decimated after their third consecutive loss.' Pay attention to common collocations like 'decimated by disease,' 'decimated by war,' or 'virtually decimated.'

At the C1 level, you should appreciate the etymological history of 'decimated' and how its meaning has shifted over time. While purists might still argue for its original 'one-tenth' definition, you should recognize that in modern usage, it serves as a powerful descriptor for any catastrophic reduction. You can use it to add rhetorical weight to your arguments. In a C1 context, 'decimated' is often used to describe the erosion of systems, institutions, or biological diversity. For example, 'The deregulation of the industry decimated the protections previously afforded to workers.' You should also be able to distinguish it from related terms like 'vitiated,' 'ravaged,' or 'blighted.' Using 'decimated' effectively involves understanding its register—it is formal and impactful, making it ideal for persuasive writing, policy analysis, and historical critique.

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For C2 learners, 'decimated' is a word that can be used with precision to describe the severe impairment of a system's integrity or the near-collapse of a population. You should be aware of the linguistic debates surrounding its 'correct' usage and be able to use it intentionally to evoke its historical gravity. In C2-level discourse, 'decimated' might appear in discussions of systemic failure, such as 'The structural integrity of the social safety net has been decimated by decades of austerity measures.' You should also be able to use it in highly nuanced ways, perhaps contrasting it with other forms of destruction to highlight a specific type of loss. Your mastery of the word should include an understanding of its phonology, its various grammatical roles, and its ability to function as a potent metaphor in both literary and technical writing.

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开始练习例句笔记与提示

decimated 30秒了解

Decimated describes something that has been severely reduced in number or strength.
It is commonly used for populations, ecosystems, and economic systems.
The word carries a sense of tragedy and significant, large-scale loss.
While it has historical roots in the number ten, it now means 'drastically reduced'.

The word decimated is a powerful adjective and past participle that describes a state of extreme reduction or destruction. While its origins are rooted in a very specific ancient military practice, its modern application has broadened significantly to encompass any situation where a group, population, or system has been severely weakened or largely wiped out. In contemporary English, when you hear that a forest has been decimated by fire or a company's profits have been decimated by a market crash, the speaker is emphasizing the sheer scale of the loss. It is not just a minor setback; it is a catastrophic event that leaves only a fraction of the original whole remaining.

Historical Context: Originally, 'decimate' referred to a Roman military punishment where every tenth man in a rebellious unit was executed. The Latin root 'decimus' means tenth.

The local bee population was decimated by the unexpected late-season frost, leaving farmers worried about pollination.

People use this word most frequently in contexts involving biology, economics, and warfare. In biology, it describes the impact of disease, habitat loss, or invasive species on wildlife. In economics, it characterizes the devastating effect of inflation or recession on savings and industries. In a more casual or hyperbolic sense, you might hear it in sports commentary when one team beats another by a huge margin, though some linguistic purists argue this deviates too far from the word's 'reduction' meaning. However, in most professional and academic writing, it serves as a formal synonym for 'drastically reduced' or 'heavily damaged'.

Modern Nuance: Today, it rarely means exactly 10%. It almost always implies a much larger loss, often approaching total destruction.

After the scandal, the politician's reputation was decimated, and his polling numbers dropped to single digits.

The emotional weight of 'decimated' is significant. It suggests a sense of tragedy and irreversible change. When an ecosystem is decimated, it implies that the balance of nature has been upended. When a community is decimated by emigration, it suggests a loss of culture and vitality. It is a word that demands attention and conveys the seriousness of a situation. It is often paired with adverbs like 'virtually', 'nearly', or 'completely' to further intensify the description of the loss.

Environmental Usage: Commonly used to describe the effects of climate change on coral reefs or the impact of deforestation on indigenous wildlife.

The hurricane decimated the coastal infrastructure, leaving thousands without power or shelter.

The once-thriving textile industry in the region was decimated by the rise of cheap overseas manufacturing.

During the Great Famine, the rural population was decimated by starvation and disease.

Using decimated correctly requires an understanding of its weight and the types of subjects it typically modifies. It is most effective when describing large-scale losses where the impact is visible and quantifiable. Because it is a past participle, it is frequently used in the passive voice (e.g., 'was decimated'), focusing the reader's attention on the victim of the destruction rather than the cause. However, it can also function as an active verb in the past tense.

Passive Voice Structure: [Subject] + [be verb] + decimated + [by phrase]. Example: 'The forest was decimated by the fire.'

The company's stock value was decimated following the news of the CEO's resignation.

When using it in an active sense, the subject is the force of destruction. This usage is common in historical accounts or news reporting where the cause is the primary focus. For instance, 'The plague decimated the city's population.' Here, the plague is the active agent. You can also use it to describe abstract concepts like morale, confidence, or hopes. When a team loses a championship game in the final seconds, their morale might be described as decimated.

Active Voice Structure: [Force of Nature/Event] + decimated + [Subject]. Example: 'The drought decimated the wheat crop.'

The sudden increase in interest rates decimated the purchasing power of the middle class.

In academic writing, 'decimated' is often used to describe demographic shifts or ecological collapses. It provides a more sophisticated alternative to 'destroyed' or 'killed off'. For example, 'The introduction of non-native predators decimated the local bird population.' In this context, it conveys a sense of scientific precision regarding the scale of the population decline. It is also useful in political science to describe the effect of a policy on a specific voting bloc or political party.

Abstract Usage: Used for non-physical things like 'hopes', 'dreams', 'morale', or 'credibility'.

Years of neglect had decimated the building's structural integrity.

The army was decimated during the retreat, with only a few hundred soldiers surviving.

The new tax laws decimated the profits of small business owners across the state.

You will encounter the word decimated in various high-stakes environments. It is a staple of news broadcasting, especially when reporting on natural disasters, economic crises, or health emergencies. News anchors might say, 'The wildfire has decimated thousands of acres of forest land,' or 'The pandemic has decimated the tourism industry.' In these cases, the word is chosen for its impact and its ability to quickly convey the severity of a situation to a broad audience.

News & Media: Frequently used in headlines to describe large-scale destruction or financial loss.

'The fishing industry has been decimated by overfishing and pollution,' the reporter stated.

In the world of documentaries and historical non-fiction, 'decimated' is used to describe the fall of empires, the impact of wars, and the consequences of colonization. Historians use it to explain how populations were reduced by disease or conflict. For example, you might read about how indigenous populations were decimated by European diseases. This usage is precise and respectful of the gravity of the historical events being described. It helps the reader visualize the scale of the human or cultural loss.

Sports Commentary: 'The team's defense was decimated by injuries before the playoffs even began.'

The documentary highlighted how the buffalo population was decimated in the 19th century.

You will also hear it in business meetings and financial reports. A CEO might explain that a particular product line was decimated by a competitor's new release. In this context, it means the product's market share or profitability was severely reduced. It is a professional way to describe a significant failure or loss. Furthermore, in environmental activism, the word is used to sound the alarm about the loss of biodiversity. Activists might say, 'The rainforest is being decimated at an alarming rate,' to urge immediate action.

Environmental Activism: Used to describe the rapid loss of species or natural habitats due to human activity.

The startup's capital was decimated after a series of poor investment choices.

The town's historic district was decimated by the earthquake, with many buildings beyond repair.

The local theater scene was decimated when the main funding source was cut.

One of the most common mistakes people make with decimated is using it to describe total, 100% destruction. While it is often used this way in casual speech, the word technically implies that a portion remains. If something is completely gone, words like 'annihilated', 'obliterated', or 'extinguished' are more accurate. Using 'decimated' when you mean 'completely destroyed' can sometimes lead to confusion, especially in technical or historical contexts where the distinction matters.

Mistake: Total Destruction: Using 'decimated' to mean 'wiped out completely' (e.g., 'The city was decimated; not a single building was left standing').

Incorrect: The entire species was decimated and is now extinct. (Better: The species was annihilated/extinguished).

Another mistake is the 'etymological fallacy', where people insist that the word can *only* mean the removal of exactly one-tenth. While this was the original Roman meaning, language evolves. In modern English, 'decimated' almost always means a much larger reduction. Insisting on the 'one-tenth' definition in a modern context can make you sound pedantic and out of touch with current usage. However, it is good to be aware of this history so you understand why some older texts might use it differently.

Mistake: Trivial Use: Using 'decimated' for small losses (e.g., 'My lunch was decimated when I dropped a fry').

Incorrect: I decimated my to-do list by finishing one task. (Better: I made a dent in my to-do list).

A third mistake is confusing 'decimated' with 'devastated'. While they are similar, 'devastated' often has a more emotional or psychological connotation, whereas 'decimated' is more about physical or numerical reduction. You might be devastated by bad news, but a population is decimated by a virus. Using 'decimated' to describe personal feelings can sometimes feel slightly off, though it is becoming more common in informal settings. Finally, ensure the subject of the verb is a group or a collective; you wouldn't usually say an individual person was 'decimated' unless you are speaking metaphorically about their health or resources.

Mistake: Individual Subject: Using 'decimated' for a single person's feelings (e.g., 'He was decimated by the breakup'). Use 'devastated' instead.

Correct: The battalion was decimated in the battle, losing 70% of its men.

The company's workforce was decimated by the recent round of layoffs.

The harvest was decimated by the locust swarm, leading to a local food shortage.

While decimated is a versatile word, there are several alternatives that might be more precise depending on the context. Understanding the subtle differences between these synonyms will help you choose the most appropriate word for your writing. For instance, 'devastated' is a close synonym but often carries a stronger emotional weight. 'Annihilated' and 'obliterated' suggest total destruction, which 'decimated' does not necessarily imply. 'Ravaged' suggests violent and widespread damage, often over a period of time.

Decimated vs. Devastated: 'Decimated' focuses on numerical or physical reduction. 'Devastated' focuses on the emotional impact or the ruined state of something.

The city was decimated by the war (many people died), and the survivors were devastated (emotionally crushed).

If you are talking about a population being reduced, 'depleted' is a milder alternative. 'Depleted' suggests that resources or numbers have been used up or reduced, but it doesn't carry the same sense of violent or catastrophic loss as 'decimated'. On the other hand, 'slaughtered' or 'massacred' are much more specific and violent, usually referring to the intentional killing of people or animals. 'Eradicated' is often used for diseases or pests that you want to get rid of completely, implying a successful and total removal.

Decimated vs. Annihilated: 'Annihilated' means reduced to nothing. 'Decimated' means reduced significantly but not necessarily to zero.

The enemy fleet was decimated, with only two ships escaping the harbor.

In a business context, you might use 'crippled' or 'undermined'. 'Crippled' suggests that something has been made unable to function properly, while 'undermined' suggests a gradual weakening of a foundation or authority. If you are looking for a more formal or academic word, 'vitiated' can be used to describe something that has been made ineffective or spoiled, though it is much less common than 'decimated'. Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to emphasize the quantity of loss, the quality of damage, or the emotional aftermath.

Decimated vs. Ravaged: 'Ravaged' implies a process of destruction over time (e.g., 'a face ravaged by age'). 'Decimated' is often a more sudden event.

The forest was decimated by the sudden landslide, wiping out years of growth in minutes.

The small town's economy was decimated when the main factory closed down.

The population of native red squirrels has been decimated by the introduction of the grey squirrel.

How Formal Is It?

正式

中性

非正式

Child friendly

俚语

趣味小知识

The original Roman punishment was designed to be terrifying because it was random; even those who hadn't participated in the mutiny could be killed. Today, the word has 'drifted' to mean much more than 10% loss.

发音指南

UK /ˈdes.ɪ.meɪ.tɪd/

US /ˈdes.ə.meɪ.t̬ɪd/

The primary stress is on the first syllable: DES-i-ma-ted.

押韵词

estimated automated calculated activated duplicated complicated educated dedicated

常见错误

Pronouncing it as 'de-CIM-ated' (stressing the second syllable).
Confusing the 'i' sound with a long 'e'.
Mumbling the 'mated' ending.
Thinking it is spelled 'decimatted'.
Using it as a noun 'decimation' when an adjective is needed.

难度评级

阅读 4/5

Common in news and history books, requires understanding of context.

写作 5/5

Needs to be used carefully to avoid sounding hyperbolic or incorrect.

口语 4/5

A great word to use for emphasis in formal presentations.

听力 3/5

Usually clear in context, but can be confused with 'devastated'.

接下来学什么

前置知识

Destroyed Reduced Population Loss Severe

接下来学习

Annihilated Obliterated Ravaged Eradicated Vitiated

高级

Demographics Ecosystem Infrastructure Mitigation Austerity

需要掌握的语法

Passive Voice

The population *was decimated* by the disease.

Past Participle as Adjective

The *decimated* forest took years to recover.

Adverbial Modification

The industry was *virtually* decimated.

Subject-Verb Agreement

The *ranks* of the army *were* decimated.

Causal 'By' Phrase

Decimated *by* years of neglect.

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按水平分级的例句

The big fire decimated the forest.

The fire destroyed many trees.

Past tense verb.

The storm decimated the small houses.

The storm broke many houses.

Subject + verb + object.

Many fish were decimated by the dirty water.

Many fish died because of pollution.

Passive voice.

The garden was decimated by the cold winter.

The plants died in the cold.

Passive voice with 'by'.

The army was decimated in the war.

Many soldiers were lost.

Simple past passive.

The bug decimated the farmer's corn.

The insects ate the corn.

Active voice.

The town's population was decimated.

Many people left or died.

Noun + was + decimated.

My toy collection was decimated by my brother.

My brother broke many of my toys.

Metaphorical use.

The local bird population was decimated by the new cats.

The cats killed many birds.

Passive voice with agent.

The earthquake decimated the city center.

The earthquake destroyed the middle of the city.

Active voice.

Our team's chances were decimated after the star player got hurt.

We had less chance to win.

Metaphorical usage.

The old books were decimated by the flood.

The water ruined the books.

Passive voice.

The company's profits were decimated last year.

The company lost a lot of money.

Business context.

The forest was decimated by illegal logging.

People cut down too many trees.

Environmental context.

The disease decimated the cattle on the farm.

Many cows died from the sickness.

Biological context.

The village was decimated by the volcano.

The volcano destroyed the village.

Natural disaster context.

The tourism industry was decimated by the global pandemic.

Fewer people traveled, so businesses lost money.

Passive voice, 'by' indicates the cause.

Overfishing has decimated the cod population in the North Atlantic.

There are very few cod left because of too much fishing.

Present perfect tense.

The rebel forces were decimated during the final assault.

Most of the rebels were killed or captured.

Military context.

My savings were decimated by the unexpected medical bills.

I have very little money left now.

Personal finance context.

The ancient city was decimated by centuries of neglect and looting.

The city fell apart because no one cared for it.

Historical context.

The butterfly population has been decimated by the use of pesticides.

Chemicals killed many butterflies.

Environmental context.

The team's morale was decimated after they lost the championship.

The players felt very sad and hopeless.

Abstract usage.

The sudden frost decimated the orange groves in Florida.

The cold weather killed the orange trees.

Agricultural context.

The indigenous population was decimated by diseases brought by explorers.

Many native people died from new illnesses.

Focus on demographic loss.

The company's market share was decimated by the arrival of a cheaper competitor.

They lost most of their customers to someone else.

Economic context.

The forest ecosystem was decimated, leading to the extinction of several species.

The whole system was destroyed.

Ecological context.

The city's infrastructure was decimated by the magnitude 8.0 earthquake.

Roads and bridges were heavily damaged.

Urban planning context.

The political party was decimated in the recent general election.

They lost almost all their seats in government.

Political context.

The once-vibrant neighborhood was decimated by the construction of the highway.

The highway destroyed the community.

Sociological context.

The bank's reputation was decimated after the fraud was uncovered.

People no longer trust the bank.

Abstract usage (reputation).

The army was decimated, leaving the country vulnerable to invasion.

The military was too weak to fight back.

Military strategy context.

The deregulation of the financial sector decimated the safeguards that prevented another crash.

Removing rules made the system unsafe.

Abstract systemic loss.

The introduction of the invasive species decimated the local biodiversity within a decade.

One new animal caused many others to disappear.

Precise ecological term.

The cultural heritage of the region was decimated by years of civil unrest.

History and traditions were lost.

Sociocultural context.

The middle class has been decimated by the rising cost of housing and stagnant wages.

The middle class is becoming much smaller.

Socioeconomic analysis.

The battalion was decimated, with the casualty rate exceeding eighty percent.

Almost everyone in the group was hurt or killed.

High-precision military usage.

The integrity of the scientific data was decimated by the researcher's bias.

The data became useless because it was not fair.

Abstract quality loss.

The local newspaper industry has been decimated by the shift to digital media.

Traditional newspapers are disappearing.

Technological impact context.

The treaty was decimated by the subsequent amendments, leaving it toothless.

The changes made the agreement weak.

Legal/Political context.

The sheer scale of the famine decimated the rural population, altering the demographic landscape for generations.

The loss was so big it changed the future.

Historical demographic analysis.

The aesthetic value of the coastline was decimated by the unchecked sprawl of luxury resorts.

The beauty was ruined by too many buildings.

Aesthetic/Environmental critique.

The credibility of the institution was decimated by the series of scandals that came to light.

No one believes in the organization anymore.

Institutional analysis.

The biodiversity of the rainforest is being decimated at a rate that far outpaces our conservation efforts.

We are losing species faster than we can save them.

Urgent ecological discourse.

The nuances of the original text were decimated in the clumsy translation.

The translation lost the special meanings of the words.

Linguistic/Literary critique.

The economic vitality of the port city was decimated by the shifting of trade routes.

The city lost its wealth because ships went elsewhere.

Macroeconomic analysis.

The army's logistical capabilities were decimated by the destruction of the main supply line.

They couldn't get food or weapons anymore.

Military logistics context.

The philosopher argued that modern technology has decimated our capacity for deep, focused thought.

Technology makes it hard to think deeply.

Philosophical/Psychological context.

常见搭配

virtually decimated

decimated by disease

decimated the population

decimated by fire

decimated profits

decimated morale

nearly decimated

decimated by competition

decimated the economy

decimated by drought

常用短语

decimated the ranks

— To significantly reduce the number of people in a group or organization.

The scandal decimated the ranks of the political party.

decimated the landscape

— To cause widespread physical destruction to an area.

The mining operations decimated the local landscape.

decimated the budget

— To severely reduce the amount of money available for a project.

The unexpected costs decimated the project budget.

decimated the field

— In sports or competition, to beat all other competitors easily.

The champion runner decimated the field in the final race.

decimated by the news

— To be emotionally crushed or shocked by information.

She was decimated by the news of his passing.

decimated the harvest

— To destroy a large portion of a crop.

The locusts decimated the wheat harvest.

decimated the workforce

— To significantly reduce the number of employees.

The recession decimated the company's workforce.

decimated the stock

— To cause a sharp drop in the value of shares.

The bad earnings report decimated the stock price.

decimated the herd

— To kill or remove a large number of animals from a group.

The wolves decimated the deer herd over the winter.

decimated the opposition

— To soundly defeat an opponent in a contest or debate.

The lawyer decimated the opposition's argument.

容易混淆的词

decimated vs devastated

Devastated is more emotional; decimated is more numerical/physical.

decimated vs annihilated

Annihilated means 100% gone; decimated means mostly gone.

decimated vs deteriorated

Deteriorated means getting worse slowly; decimated is usually a sudden, large loss.

习语与表达

"cut to the bone"

— To reduce something to the absolute minimum, similar to decimation.

The budget was cut to the bone.

Informal

"wipe the floor with"

— To defeat someone completely, often used in sports like decimate.

They wiped the floor with the other team.

Slang

"leave in ruins"

— To destroy something completely.

The storm left the town in ruins.

Neutral

"make a dent in"

— To reduce something slightly (opposite of decimate).

I finally made a dent in my debt.

Informal

"blow out of the water"

— To completely destroy or defeat.

Their new product blew ours out of the water.

Informal

"fall like flies"

— To die or fail in large numbers.

The soldiers were falling like flies.

Informal

"take a heavy toll"

— To cause significant damage or loss.

The war took a heavy toll on the population.

Formal

"level to the ground"

— To destroy a building or city completely.

The city was leveled to the ground.

Neutral

"thin the ranks"

— To reduce the number of people in a group.

The flu thinned the ranks of the office.

Neutral

"gutted"

— To be extremely disappointed or to have the interior of something destroyed.

The building was gutted by fire.

Informal

容易混淆

decimated vs decimal

Similar root (dec-).

Decimal refers to the number 10 in math; decimated refers to destruction.

The decimal point is important in math, but the forest was decimated by fire.

decimated vs desecrated

Similar sound.

Desecrated means to treat a sacred place with disrespect.

The temple was desecrated by vandals, but the population was decimated by war.

decimated vs decanted

Similar sound.

Decanted means to pour liquid from one container to another.

He decanted the wine before the party was decimated by the bad news.

decimated vs designated

Similar sound.

Designated means to officially choose someone or something.

The designated driver was sad when the party's snacks were decimated.

decimated vs deprecated

Similar sound/register.

Deprecated means to express disapproval or (in tech) to be outdated.

The old software was deprecated, while the company's profits were decimated.

句型

The [Noun] was decimated by [Cause].

The garden was decimated by the frost.

[Event] decimated the [Noun].

The recession decimated the local economy.

A decimated [Noun]...

A decimated workforce is hard to manage.

Virtually decimated by [Cause], the [Noun]...

Virtually decimated by the plague, the city struggled to recover.

The [Noun] of [Group] has been decimated.

The morale of the staff has been decimated.

The decimation of [Noun] led to [Consequence].

The decimation of the buffalo led to a change in the plains.

[Abstract Noun] was decimated in the wake of [Event].

Public trust was decimated in the wake of the scandal.

Having been decimated, the [Noun]...

Having been decimated, the battalion was forced to retreat.

词族

名词

动词

形容词

如何使用

frequency

Common in news, science, and history.

常见错误

Using it for a single object. → The population was decimated.
Decimated implies a reduction in a group, not a single item being broken.
Insisting it only means 10%. → The forest was decimated (meaning mostly destroyed).
Language has evolved; the 10% rule is no longer the primary meaning.
Confusing with 'desecrated'. → The army was decimated.
Desecrated is for holy places; decimated is for destruction of groups.
Using it for emotional states of individuals. → He was devastated by the news.
Decimated is usually for physical or numerical loss in a group.
Spelling it 'decimatted'. → Decimated.
The word follows standard past participle spelling for verbs ending in -ate.

小贴士

Use for Groups

Always use decimated when referring to a group of things, like a population or a collection.

Not Just 10%

Don't worry about the 10% rule in modern conversation; focus on the 'massive loss' meaning.

Passive Voice

It often sounds more natural in the passive voice: 'The city was decimated.'

Synonym Choice

Choose 'annihilated' for total destruction and 'decimated' for severe reduction.

Environmental Context

This is a perfect word for essays about climate change and habitat loss.

Economic Context

Use it to describe major financial losses or market shifts.

Historical Context

It is highly effective for describing the impact of plagues and wars.

Metaphorical Use

You can use it for abstract things like 'morale' or 'confidence'.

Avoid Triviality

Don't use it for small things like 'I decimated my sandwich' unless you're joking.

Spelling Tip

Remember there is only one 'c' and it's followed by an 'i'.

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of the 'DEC' in 'decimated' as the 'DEC' in 'decimal' or 'December' (the 10th month in the old Roman calendar). It's about the number 10, but now it's 10 times worse!

视觉联想

Imagine a row of ten soldiers, and one is suddenly removed. Now imagine that happening until only one is left. That is a decimated group.

Word Web

Destroyed Reduced Population Ecosystem Ten Roman Catastrophe Loss

挑战

Try to use 'decimated' in a sentence about your favorite video game or a historical event you know well.

词源

Derived from the Latin 'decimare', which means 'to take a tenth'. This comes from 'decimus', meaning 'tenth'.

原始含义： A form of military discipline used by the Roman army to punish mutiny or cowardice. One out of every ten men in a cohort was selected by lot and executed by his comrades.

Italic -> Latin -> Middle French -> English.

文化背景

Be careful when using 'decimated' to describe human tragedies; ensure the context is respectful of the scale of loss.

Commonly used in news headlines for impact. It is a 'high-register' word that sounds more professional than 'wiped out'.

The Roman practice of decimation is mentioned in many history books and historical fiction like 'I, Claudius'. Environmental reports often use the term to describe the loss of the Amazon rainforest. Sports headlines: 'Injuries Decimate the Lakers' Roster'.

在生活中练习

真实语境

Environmental Science

decimated biodiversity
decimated habitats
decimated species
decimated by pollution

Economics

decimated savings
decimated profits
decimated industries
decimated by inflation

History/Warfare

decimated army
decimated population
decimated by plague
decimated city

Sports

decimated by injuries
decimated the defense
decimated the field
decimated the competition

Business

decimated market share
decimated workforce
decimated budget
decimated reputation

对话开场白

"Have you ever seen an area that was decimated by a natural disaster?"

"Do you think the local high street has been decimated by online shopping?"

"How can we protect endangered species from being decimated by habitat loss?"

"Was there a time when your confidence was decimated by a difficult challenge?"

"In your opinion, which historical event decimated the world the most?"

日记主题

Describe a time when you felt your plans were decimated by something unexpected. How did you recover?

Write about an environmental issue where a population of animals is being decimated. What can be done?

Reflect on how the internet has decimated certain traditional industries. Is this change good or bad?

Imagine you are a historian writing about a city decimated by a volcano. Describe the scene.

How would you feel if your favorite sports team was decimated by injuries right before a big game?

常见问题

10 个问题

No. In modern English, it almost always means a much larger reduction, often near-total destruction. The 10% meaning is historical.

It is better to use it for groups or systems. For a person, 'devastated' is usually more appropriate.

Yes, it almost always describes a loss, destruction, or a negative reduction in strength.

It is generally formal and is common in news, academic writing, and professional reports.

The noun form is 'decimation'.

Yes, though some purists might say it's redundant, it is very common for emphasis.

It is pronounced DES-i-ma-ted, with the stress on the first syllable.

Yes, to describe a team with many injuries or a team that lost very badly.

Devastated, ravaged, and annihilated are common synonyms.

It comes from the Latin word for 'tenth', referring to a Roman military punishment.

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