# Is there a word like decimate for an order of magnitude reduction? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2010, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102 "2010-07-09T15:34:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102/21 "2010-07-09T19:14:46Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > I only use it when something has been reduce by 1/10th. That way you can say:“It was literally decimated” and start off two word-use arguments at once. I hope that, someday, I am present when something has been reduced by exactly a tenth–and I remember to say this. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102/22 "2010-07-09T19:34:56Z")
To clarify: I had the correct conception of reducing by an order of magnitude the whole time, which is why I was particularly baffled by some of replies. For some reason, my brain decided to \*also \*think of decimation as dividing by 10, as opposed to dividing by 10 _and then subtracting that number to leave the 90% as the remainder_. So, yeah, sorry about that **ToborAton**. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102/23 "2010-07-09T19:41:18Z")
> [@ToborAton](#): > > It will be after I have tenned the number of people using it enough to get it added to whatever dictionary you consider authoritative. Not sure if you’ve noticed but it can be changed. 😉 hey this is the internet! We are all tenners! ---
**Author:** ![ToborAton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/57b2e6/32.png) [@ToborAton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToborAton)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102/24 "2010-07-09T19:50:12Z")
> [@not\_alice](#): > > hey this is the internet! We are all tenners! Wow the rest of the Internet is _already_ tenning!? I should be ecstatic but I _know_ the internet and there’s no way they are tenning the right way. ---
**Author:** ![ToborAton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/57b2e6/32.png) [@ToborAton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToborAton)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102/25 "2010-07-09T20:09:11Z")
> [@ToborAton](#): > > Wow the rest of the Internet is _already_ tenning!? I should be ecstatic but I _know_ the internet and there’s no way they are tenning the right way. Problem solved! MPSIMS “Happy Birthday: tenning and tenthing!” > **[Happy Birthday: tenning and tenthing!](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=570251)** > > Tenning and tenthing were just born today: GQ: “Is there a word like decimate for an order of magnitude reduction?” Please be sure you use them correctly. Most importantly: these words are special because they are the first I know of which, by... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-like-decimate-for-an-order-of-magnitude-reduction/546102.md?page=1)