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

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.

From Los Angeles Times

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

He has promised to “root out” his enemies who “live like vermin” and must be exterminated for the country to survive.

From Salon

Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Days of Remembrance, Mr. Biden tied the anti-Jewish sentiment that led to the Nazi effort to exterminate Jews directly to Oct.

From New York Times

Related Words

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