EXTIRPATE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

extirpate

verb

ˈek-stər-ˌpāt

Definition of extirpate next

as in to eradicate

to destroy all traces of the triumph of modern medicine in extirpating certain diseases

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 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 The way to extirpate this bias is by realizing that the concept of death is not an all-or-nothing matter, but rather a spectrum—something that comes in degrees. —

Susana Monsó, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for extirpate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extirpate

Verb

Prions behave differently than viruses and bacteria and are virtually impossible to eradicate.

— Jim Robbin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
However, the longer the marathon, the more the runners’ energy reserves are drained, making reaching the finish line – eradicating cancer, say – increasingly difficult.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2025