decimate

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

The pollution could decimate the river's thriving population of kingfishers. 污染可能大量毀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(yán)重削弱

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