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decapitate Definition

de·capi·tate (dē kapə tāt′, di-)

transitive verb -·tat′ed, -·tat′·ing

to cut off the head of; behead

Etymology: Fr décapiter < ML decapitatus, pp. of decapitare < L de-, off + caput, head

decapitate Related Forms

de·cap′i·ta·tion noun de·capi·ta′·tor noun

decapitate Synonyms

decapitate

v.

decapitate Usage Examples

Object

  • head: We weren't really sure what to do with the bag, was there a decapitated head inside?
  • body: The decapitated body falls into a green bucket by his feet with a slap.
  • man: Usually accompanied by a giant two-headed snake whose bite was powerful enough to decapitate a man.
  • prisoner: Decapitated American prisoners, with the rest of their bodies hacked to pieces in bayonet practice were not uncommon discoveries.
  • regime: In this case US decapitated the Iraqi regime in order to bring chaos to Iraq.
  • larva: Decapitated larvae of many insects can survive for over a year under sterile conditions.

Preposition: with

  • ax: Men and women were barbarously felled and decapitated with axes.
  • knife: He was tied in a chair and decapitated with a hunting knife in the hands of a bereaved father and husband.

Subject

  • killer: Any birds who are not stunned are meant to be decapitated by a back-up killer whilst conscious.
  • train: Stephen Orchard ( 19 ) was decapitated by a train near the headquarters of the Jesus Fellowship Church at Bugbrooke, near Northampton.

Preposition: by

  • killer: Any birds who are not stunned are meant to be decapitated by a back-up killer whilst conscious.
  • train: Stephen Orchard ( 19 ) was decapitated by a train near the headquarters of the Jesus Fellowship Church at Bugbrooke, near Northampton.

Modifying Another Word

  • nearly: Nicholls showed that he didn't consider the game to be a friendly by nearly decapitating an OFK player three minutes later.
  • almost: Two of the killed were severely mangled, whilst another was almost decapitated.
  • then: Edmund Kemper smashed her skull and then decapitated her.
  • accidentally: Even when I accidentally decapitate the artichokes he continues twirling around the various ovens, smiling and dishing out orders.

Browse dictionary entries near decapitate

  1. decanter
  2. decant
  3. decane
  4. decanal
  5. decamp
  6. decameter
  7. Decameron
  8. Decalogue
  9. decaliter
  10. decalescence
  1. decapitation
  2. decapod
  3. Decapolis
  4. decarbonate
  5. decarbonize
  6. decarboxylation
  7. decarburize
  8. decasyllable
  9. decathlete
  10. decathlon