exterminatory

American  

[ik-stur-muh-nuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ɪkˈstɜr mə nəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

Also exterminative

adjective

1. serving or tending to exterminate.

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Other Word Forms

• nonexterminative adjective
• nonexterminatory adjective

Etymology

Origin of exterminatory

First recorded in 1780–90; exterminate + -ory ¹

Example Sentences

Among animals, save in the warfare of carnivorous animals for their daily food, there are no exterminatory wars between species, and even local wars over territory are of very rare occurrence.

From The Minds and Manners of Wild Animals A Book of Personal Observations by Hornaday, William Temple

Indeed it was Barrington who inspired that work:—a circumstance which must atone for his exterminatory raid on the Temple sparrows.

From The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 2 Elia and The Last Essays of Elia by Lamb, Charles

Forward, ye well-drilled exterminatory men; with your artillery-waggons, and camp kettles jingling.

From The French Revolution by Carlyle, Thomas

Against this new, this growing, this exterminatory system, all these churches have a common concern to defend themselves.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 06 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund