decimate
UK: ˈdɛsɪmeɪt | US: ˈdɛsəˌmeɪt
vt. 1. To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
vt. 2. (Historical) To kill one in every ten of a group as a punishment.
vt. 3. (Loosely) To severely reduce the strength or effectiveness of something.
The word decimate originates from the brutal Roman military practice of punishing mutinous or cowardly troops by executing every tenth soldier (selected by lot). Over time, its meaning broadened to signify large-scale destruction or reduction, though purists argue it should retain its original "one-tenth" connotation. The shift reflects how language adapts historical terms to modern hyperbolic usage.
The plague decimated the population of medieval Europe.
Critics argue that budget cuts will decimate public services.
In ancient Rome, commanders sometimes decimated disobedient legions.
The invasive species has decimated local wildlife.
The team was decimated by injuries before the championship.