extirpate
verb
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Dig Out the History of Extirpate
You don’t have to dig too deep into the history of extirpate to discover that its roots are in, well, roots (and stumps). Extirpate grew out of a combining of the Latin prefix ex-, meaning “out,” and the Latin noun stirps, “trunk” or “root.” Among the earliest definitions of extirpate in English were “to uproot” and “to clear of stumps,” as well as the broader meaning of “to destroy completely” or “wipe out.” While today we often encounter extirpate in relation to plant and animal species that have been regrettably removed from a specific region or in total, intangibles such as evil or prejudice, for example, may also be extirpated. We hope this helps but if you find yourself stumped the next time you encounter extirpate, just remember we’re rooting for you.
Examples of extirpate in a Sentence
Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Wildlife officials have collared a dozen gray wolves in Northern California in an effort to better understand and manage the species that has made a comeback in the state after being extirpated a century ago.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
They’ve been considered extirpated, which means that they just haven’t been seen in a really long time.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
Wildlife officials have collared a dozen gray wolves in Northern California in an effort to better understand and manage the species that has made a comeback in the state after being extirpated a century ago.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extirpate
Cite this Entry
“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extirpate. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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extirpate
verb
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