verb
- to cut off the head of a person or animal
Usage: formal
Examples
- The executioner was ordered to decapitate the prisoner.
- Ancient warriors would sometimes decapitate their enemies in battle.
- The statue was vandalized when someone tried to decapitate it.
- The guillotine was designed to quickly decapitate condemned criminals.
- The accident nearly decapitated the driver.
- Medieval kings often chose to decapitate traitors publicly.