EXTERMINATE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'exterminate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of exterminate are eradicate , extirpate , and uproot . While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals. // exterminate cockroaches

Q: When is 'eradicate' a more appropriate choice than 'exterminate'?

The meanings of eradicate and exterminate largely overlap; however, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself. // a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

Q: When is it sensible to use 'extirpate' instead of 'exterminate'?

The words extirpate and exterminate can be used in similar contexts, but extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation. // many species have been extirpated from the area

Q: When might 'uproot' be a better fit than 'exterminate'?

In some situations, the words uproot and exterminate are roughly equivalent. However, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction. // the war uprooted thousands

exterminate

verb

ik-ˈstər-mə-ˌnāt

Definition of exterminate next

as in to eradicate

to destroy all traces of hope that the fumigant exterminates the whole colony of cockroaches, for any survivors may be resistant to any poison

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb exterminate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of exterminate are eradicate, extirpate, and uproot. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When is eradicate a more appropriate choice than exterminate?

The meanings of eradicate and exterminate largely overlap; however, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

When is it sensible to use extirpate instead of exterminate?

The words extirpate and exterminate can be used in similar contexts, but extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

When might uproot be a better fit than exterminate?

In some situations, the words uproot and exterminate are roughly equivalent. However, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of exterminate His parents came from Salonika, Greece, where ninety per cent of the Jewish population was deported and exterminated. —

Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024 Integrated pest management and carefully rotating through different insecticide treatments are industry-wide practices, which can prevent resistance from becoming established and truly exterminate an infestation, DeVries notes. —

Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2024 Over time, beekeepers have kept hives that are more docile and exterminated bees that show aggressive tendencies in an effort to keep the majority of wild bees calm. —

Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024 Under Frank’s direction, the Nazis exterminated Poland’s Jewish population. —

Michael Byers, Foreign Affairs, 22 Sep. 2016 See all Example Sentences for exterminate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for exterminate

Verb

Five came from teams that posted losing records, leading to bad tendencies that need to be eradicated as quickly as possible.

Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
She's violated her oath, eradicated our sovereign border, and unleashed an army of gangs and criminal migrants from prisons and jails.

NBC News, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024