Decimate (verb)

1. To kill or destroy a large proportion of (a group of people or things).
2. To reduce greatly in number or quantity.

Origin:

Late 16th century (in the sense "choose by lot"): from latin decimat- "taken a tenth", from the verb decimare, from decimus "tenth". the current sense dates from the early 18th century.

Examples:

1. The disease decimated the population.
2. The enemy's army was decimated by the attack.
3. The company had to decimate its workforce due to financial crisis.
4. The storm decimated the crops.
5. The fire decimated the forest and wildlife.