decapitalize

[ dee-kap-i-tl-ahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, de·cap·i·tal·ized, de·cap·i·tal·iz·ing.

1. to deprive of capital; discourage capital formation; withdraw capital from:

   The government decapitalized industry with harsh tax policies.

Other Words From

• de·capi·tal·i·zation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of decapitalize¹

First recorded in 1870–75; de- + capitalize

Example Sentences

Feels like it was designed for — but not by — young people Smart touts its motto as “reduce to the max,” which, I trust, is also why the company opts to decapitalize the names of its products.

From The Verge

One called the move "pointless and counter-productive," saying it was grammatically wrong to it to decapitalize a proper noun, while another said the internet deserved the honorific big I as a wonder of the world.

From The Verge

Third, a prolonged period of very low interest rates will decapitalize defined-benefit pension funds—both private and public—throughout the country.

From Wall Street Journal

Another motion was put: "That the department of the Seine constitute itself an independent republic in case of the Assembly attempting to decapitalize Paris,"—a motion unsound in its conception, faultily drawn up, which seemed to isolate Paris from the rest of France—an anti-revolutionist, anti-Parisian idea, cruelly exploited against the Commune.

From Project Gutenberg

The other two they were decapitalize' on that gui'otine.

From Project Gutenberg