exterminate

[ ik-stur-muh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·ter·mi·nat·ed, ex·ter·mi·nat·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• exˈtermiˌnator, noun
• exˈterminable, adjective
• exˌtermiˈnation, noun
• exˈterminative, adjective

Other Words From

• ex·ter·mi·na·ble [ik-, stur, -m, uh, -n, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• ex·termi·nation noun
• nonex·termi·nation noun
• self-ex·termi·nation noun
• unex·termi·na·ble adjective
• unex·termi·nated 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

“They want to exterminate the Palestinian people and not provide us with humanitarian services.”

From BBC

The trial was told Parslow, who has an Adolf Hitler's signature tattooed on his left forearm, tried to send a post to X before his arrest claiming he "just did my duty to England" by trying to "exterminate" his victim.

From BBC

A woman who accidentally killed an 11-year-old neighbour with poisonous gas she used to exterminate bedbugs has been spared jail by a judge at the Old Bailey.

From BBC

Hours later, a similar message would circulate in the settler groups but with fire emojis attached to each location, as well as calls from individual settlers to "eliminate the enemy", "exterminate the beasts", and - referring to a nearby Palestinian village - "let all of Duma burn".

From BBC

"Make them afraid, those beasts. Exterminate them."

From BBC

Related Words

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