[Right Wing Assault]

What does decimated mean? (I do not think that word means what you think it means, Mr. Obama)

I don't think 90% of the country knows what "decimated" means.

[Kaslin]

From Merriam Webster Dictionary.com

Definition of Decimate

1 : to select by lot and kill every tenth man of

2 : to exact a tax of 10 percent from < poor as a decimated Cavalier — John Dryden >

3 a : to reduce drastically especially in number < cholera decimated the population >

b : to cause great destruction or harm to < firebombs decimated the city > < an industry decimated by recession >

Related to DECIMATE

Synonyms
annihilate, cream, destroy, demolish, desolate, devastate, do in, extinguish, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck