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

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 exterminate After wolves were exterminated from the Yellowstone region in the 1920s, the elk population more than doubled, causing significant damage to the area’s grasses, shrubs, and trees. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025 For reasons that are no longer relevant to the dead, or to the unflinching new Laura Poitras documentary that begins with their murders, the Americans began to exterminate the entire population. David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 29 Aug. 2025 This led to some debate among participants about the ethics of exterminating a pregnant nutria. Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025 Remember the monkeys in Pittsburgh that Harvard was going to exterminate because Trump had taken away $75,000? Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exterminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exterminate
Verb
  • In that time, the potentially fatal disease has been virtually eradicated among American children.
    Kff Health News, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Although interest in Russian Cosmism was quickly eradicated, the movement has acquired new life in the 21st century.
    Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Just weeks ago, gas was 10% cheaper than last year; that was erased.
    Matt Randolph, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Kris Mitchell erased Chambers’ records two years later, and Eric Rivers did it again last season.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Iranian authorities must immediately implement a moratorium on all executions and abolish the death penalty.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Department of Labor withdrew a plan to establish a minimum wage for workers with disabilities and abolished wage protections for the home-health aides who assist millions of seniors and disabled people.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some are value-destroying black holes; others are relentless value creators.
    Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The first instance of NATO nations downing drones came last week, when Polish and Dutch fighters destroyed three Russian drones over Poland.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exterminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exterminate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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