exterminate

[ik-stur-muh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

exterminated, exterminating 

1. to get rid of by destroying; destroy totally; extirpate.

   to exterminate an enemy; to exterminate insects.

   Synonyms: eliminate, annihilate, abolish, eradicate

exterminate

/ ɪkˈstɜːmɪˌneɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to destroy (living things, esp pests or vermin) completely; annihilate; eliminate

Other Word Forms

• exterminable adjective
• extermination noun
• nonextermination noun
• self-extermination noun
• unexterminable adjective
• unexterminated adjective
• exterminator noun
• exterminative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of exterminate¹

1535–45; < Latin exterminātus, past participle of extermināre to extermine; -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exterminate¹

C16: from Latin extermināre to drive away, from terminus boundary

Example Sentences

Settlers and later the U.S. government ruthlessly suppressed and exterminated the Miwok and other tribes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sheinbaum evoked the Holocaust, saying “many of my relatives ... were exterminated in concentration camps.”

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The grower reported having to exterminate between 50 and 100 rats per day.

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There are also conflicting views of the cost of exterminating so many owls.

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The antisemitic posts were posted on Elmo's account in quick succession and called for all Jewish people to be "exterminated".

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• annihilate 
• decimate 
• eradicate 
• extinguish 
• obliterate 
• slaughter 
• stamp out 
• wipe out