as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of
hope that the fumigant exterminates the whole colony of cockroaches, for any survivors may be resistant to any poison
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 exterminating
Here's how to combine the two for an ant-exterminating solution.
—
Rabekah Henderson,
The Spruce,
5 June 2026
Teller also warns that exterminating hives can harm native pollinators, such as bumblebees and wasps, through the insecticides used.
—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Ahead, Miller and Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist at Clemson University, share their expert advice for identifying, exterminating, and preventing bed bugs in your home.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
Last year, a leading AfD candidate for the European Parliament insisted that not all members of the Nazi SS paramilitary (responsible for rounding up and exterminating Jews) were criminals.
—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
20 Dec. 2025
While the sicko elites bask in the violence, Kawaji sees the Kodoku as a means of exterminating the remaining samurai, who have staged multiple rebellions against the Japanese empire.
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Nov. 2025
So New Zealand has set a goal of exterminating rats, possums and other invasive animals that threaten the country’s biodiversity.
—
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
Robots built Trantor and the Galactic Empire, and then humans took those gifts and turned on their creation, hunting down and exterminating all robots.
—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
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
Rabekah Henderson,
The Spruce,
5 June 2026
Teller also warns that exterminating hives can harm native pollinators, such as bumblebees and wasps, through the insecticides used.
—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
1 June 2026
Ahead, Miller and Eric Benson, PhD, professor emeritus and extension entomologist at Clemson University, share their expert advice for identifying, exterminating, and preventing bed bugs in your home.
—
Arricca Elin Sansone,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
Last year, a leading AfD candidate for the European Parliament insisted that not all members of the Nazi SS paramilitary (responsible for rounding up and exterminating Jews) were criminals.
—
Trudy Rubin,
Mercury News,
20 Dec. 2025
While the sicko elites bask in the violence, Kawaji sees the Kodoku as a means of exterminating the remaining samurai, who have staged multiple rebellions against the Japanese empire.
—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Nov. 2025
So New Zealand has set a goal of exterminating rats, possums and other invasive animals that threaten the country’s biodiversity.
—
NPR,
13 Oct. 2025
Robots built Trantor and the Galactic Empire, and then humans took those gifts and turned on their creation, hunting down and exterminating all robots.
—
Rafael Motamayor,
Vulture,
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exterminating
Verb
-
Frustratingly, Rubus armeniacus is notoriously difficult to get rid of, as traditional approaches to invasive management such as fire, herbicide, and mowing are insufficient at eradicating the plant.
-
Incomplete or inappropriate antibiotic courses amplify this effect by exposing bacteria to sub-therapeutic drug concentrations without eradicating them.
Verb
-
Maybe Destiny 2 needed to end at some point, but there’s a difference between that and announcing the next stage of the IP, and erasing it from existence and laying off the hundreds of talented team members still making great content right down to the last minute.
-
Electronic dance music scholars have noted that countercultural scenes have shifted into a global industry, reshaping or erasing local meanings in favor of commercialization.
Verb
-
Among the subjects Avila Chevalier says Democrats should focus on are affordability, federal budgets focused on aiding working people, and a more just immigration system — including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
-
Avila Chevalier survived a deluge of attacks for previous social media posts that called for abolishing the police and prisons.
Verb
-
Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
-
But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
Cite this Entry
“Exterminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exterminating. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
