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Decimate (Verb)

Kill in large numbers; "the plague wiped out an entire population".

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

The disease decimated the local wildlife population, reducing it to nearly half its original size.
The war decimated the city, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction.
The virus decimated the crops, causing widespread famine and economic downturn.
In the 14th century, the Black Death decimated nearly a third of Europe's population.
The severe storm decimated the coastal town, destroying homes and businesses.

Kill one in every ten, as of mutineers in Roman armies.

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc..

The Roman general ordered his men to decimate the rebellious legion as punishment for their disloyalty to the empire.
In ancient Rome, the practice of decimating an army that had committed mutiny was often used as a deterrent to maintain discipline.
A long-standing tradition in some ancient Roman legions involved decimating a group of prisoners of war to instill fear among their opponents.
During times of war, the Roman commander might decide to decimate his own troops who had disobeyed direct orders, to maintain a semblance of authority.
Mutineers who rose against their Roman commanders were often dealt with swiftly, as the penalty for such actions typically involved being decimated by their own comrades.