Introduction / Context:
This vocabulary question asks for the synonym of the word “decimated”. Although the original Latin root refers to killing one in ten, in modern English the word is commonly used to mean “destroyed to a very large extent” or “severely reduced”. The learner must select the option that best matches this modern usage, especially as seen in news reports about disasters, wars, or epidemics.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Target word: “decimated”.
- Options: “captured”, “destroyed”, “damaged”, “worried”.
- We use contemporary general English rather than strict historical meaning.
Concept / Approach:
In present-day English, “decimated” often means that something has been almost wiped out or greatly reduced in number or strength. For example, “The cyclone decimated the coastal villages” means the villages were largely destroyed. Among the options, “destroyed” matches this sense most closely. “Damaged” suggests partial harm, “captured” refers to being taken prisoner or seized, and “worried” is entirely unrelated. Therefore, “destroyed” is the best synonym.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall typical usage: “The army was decimated”, “the population was decimated by disease”, “the forests were decimated by logging”.
Step 2: In all these contexts, the idea is of massive destruction or severe reduction, not just minor damage or simple capture.
Step 3: Compare with options: “captured” means taken into custody; “destroyed” means ruined or wiped out; “damaged” means harmed but not completely ruined; “worried” refers to mental anxiety.
Step 4: The closest in strength and meaning to “decimated” is “destroyed”.
Step 5: Therefore, the correct synonym is “DESTROYED”.
Verification / Alternative check:
Replace “decimated” with “destroyed” in sample sentences: “The village was destroyed by the flood” has essentially the same impact as “The village was decimated by the flood.”
If we try “damaged”, the sense becomes weaker: “The village was damaged by the flood” suggests partial harm, not devastation.
Hence “destroyed” is clearly the most suitable choice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A (captured): Relates to seizing or taking control of something or someone, not to large-scale destruction.
Option C (damaged): Indicates harm but not the severe, near-total destruction implied by “decimated”.
Option D (worried): Refers to emotional or mental distress and is completely unrelated to the physical destruction implied by the word.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners remember the historical meaning (killing one in ten) and may think the synonym should reflect partial loss, but exam questions usually follow modern usage.
Others may confuse “decimated” with “damaged” because both involve harm, but they differ greatly in intensity.
Not paying attention to typical contexts (war, epidemic, natural disaster) can also lead to wrong choices.
Final Answer:
The word “DECIMATED” is closest in meaning to “DESTROYED”.
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