exterminate

[ik-stur-muh-neyt]

verb (used with object)

exterminated, exterminating 

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

Other Word Forms

• exterminator noun
• exterminable adjective
• extermination noun
• exterminative adjective
• nonextermination noun
• self-extermination noun
• unexterminable adjective
• unexterminated 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

The grower reported having to exterminate between 50 and 100 rats per day.

From Los Angeles Times

There are also conflicting views of the cost of exterminating so many owls.

From Los Angeles Times

The antisemitic posts were posted on Elmo's account in quick succession and called for all Jewish people to be "exterminated".

From BBC

Last year, some argued that the city should officially designate lovebugs as pests — a move that would allow them to be chemically exterminated — citing the threats they posed to mental health.

From Los Angeles Times

And if we’re to exterminate these structural pests from our society, we must focus our attention on their creators.

From Salon

Related Words

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