decimate

1. V-T To decimate something such as a group of people or animals means to destroy a very large number of them. 大量燬滅

The pollution could decimate the river's thriving population of kingfishers. 汙染可能大量燬滅在這條河茁壯成長的翠鳥群。

2. V-T To decimate a system or organization means to reduce its size and effectiveness greatly. 嚴重削弱

...a recession which decimated the nation's manufacturing industry. …嚴重削弱了該國制造業(yè)的一次經(jīng)濟衰退。