Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extirpate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of extirpate are eradicate, exterminate, and uproot. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," 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 is eradicate a more appropriate choice than extirpate?

Although the words eradicate and extirpate have much in common, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

When would exterminate be a good substitute for extirpate?

While in some cases nearly identical to extirpate, exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When can uproot be used instead of extirpate?

The words uproot and extirpate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Example 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 extirpate Leaders who attempt to take a moderate stance run the risk of being publicly lynched by those who insist that Chavismo is an evil that must be extirpated. Ivan Briscoe, Foreign Affairs, 2 July 2019 The species flourished after its chief predator, the grizzly, was extirpated there, in the early twentieth century. Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 Before then, gray wolves had been extirpated from the state since the 1920s. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 21 Nov. 2024 Phil Beasley, Plantation The last straw was Oct. 7 Hamas must be extirpated from Gaza. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024 See All Example Sentences for extirpate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extirpate
Verb
  • Measles is a disease that has been considered largely eradicated in the United states for more than 20 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The president signed an executive order in January that would help eradicate DEI programs across the federal government, with Cabinet members carrying out the order in various ways.
    Filip Timotija, The Hill, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That’s the short list of what this state’s brilliant educational minds, who are clearly raising absolutely no teenage boys, expect to erase.
    Pat Beall, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Time travel stories often feature grim themes of destruction and butterfly effect scenarios where even a single change can lead to disastrous outcomes (like Marty almost erasing himself from existence in Back to the Future).
    Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Even before abolishing the department, the Trump administration blocked student loan forgiveness and repayment plans, slashed department staffing, and wiped the federal watchdog agency tasked with overseeing student loan servicing and collections.
    Sareen Habeshian, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
  • What is Trump's justification for abolishing the department?
    Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Tornadoes pose a severe risk to life and property, with their powerful winds capable of destroying homes, overturning vehicles, and uprooting trees.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Taking on the role of a teenage boy named Chrono, players have to travel through time and assemble a team to stop a horrifying creature named Lavos from destroying the world.
    Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extirpate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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