decapitate

verb

di-ˈka-pə-ˌtāt How to pronounce decapitate (audio)
Definition of decapitatenext
as in to head
to cut off the head of a particularly gruesome series of murders in which the victims were decapitated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decapitate
  1. head
  2. behead
Verb
  • The primary core signal released is that Fed officials remain clearly divided over which direction interest rates should head next.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • About 4% of those crude oil exports head to the Americas while a portion of oil shipments go to Europe.
    — Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of head
Verb
  • In connection with the beheading threat, he was arrested on suspicion of making an interstate threatening communication.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The next morning, the officers’ bodies are found, beheaded, lying in pools of their own blood.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of behead
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

decants
decapitate
decapitated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decapitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decapitate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All