as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the virtual extermination of the native tribes by the colonizers
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Recent Examples of extermination
Following the animal’s death and diagnosis, 64 rats that were killed through extermination or found dead on the San Diego Zoo property were examined, and two adult rats were found to be infected with lungworms and associated pneumonia.
—
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
For the safest extermination method, spray the nest after dusk when the wasps are not active.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Besides extermination, these companies also may be able to assist with locating and sealing entry points or making other recommendations for exclusion.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Karski had managed to visit the Warsaw ghetto and a transit stop for the Bełżec extermination camp.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Steam Treatment An extermination team can also use hot steam or steam foam at temperatures of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill bed bugs.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
By the middle of the 20th century, decades of aggressive hunting, trapping, and mass poisoning had pushed the Lower 48’s gray wolves to the point of near extermination.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
But when Mickey is cloned prematurely, resulting in multiple Mickeys, both Mickeys find themselves in danger of extermination.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Leaders from around the world gathered in Jerusalem on Tuesday to highlight the global surge in antisemitism on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marked annually on the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi extermination camp.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
For the safest extermination method, spray the nest after dusk when the wasps are not active.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Besides extermination, these companies also may be able to assist with locating and sealing entry points or making other recommendations for exclusion.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
Karski had managed to visit the Warsaw ghetto and a transit stop for the Bełżec extermination camp.
—Nicholas Lemann, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026
Steam Treatment An extermination team can also use hot steam or steam foam at temperatures of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to kill bed bugs.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 16 Feb. 2026
By the middle of the 20th century, decades of aggressive hunting, trapping, and mass poisoning had pushed the Lower 48’s gray wolves to the point of near extermination.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 16 Feb. 2026
But when Mickey is cloned prematurely, resulting in multiple Mickeys, both Mickeys find themselves in danger of extermination.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Leaders from around the world gathered in Jerusalem on Tuesday to highlight the global surge in antisemitism on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, marked annually on the anniversary of the 1945 liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi extermination camp.
—Amelie Botbol, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extermination
Noun
-
Washington has no answer to any of these questions – only a theory of destruction.—
Farah N. Jan,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Jalloh’s lengthy criminal history includes more than 30 arrests for charges of rape, assault, drug possession, property destruction, identity theft, trespassing, firing a weapon, grand larceny, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and pickpocketing.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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First there was Alexander Bublik, whaling his racket into the green court behind the baseline against Rinky Hijikata with abandon and devastation.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The balance Jean strikes between devastation and liberation emphasizes the appreciation one brings to the other.—
Larisha Paul,
VIBE.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If not stopped it has the potential to cause an extinction-level global ice age.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
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To save men’s basketball without putting football on a road to extinction was thought to be impossible in June 2018, by which time Dan Hurley was hired to replace Ollie, when UConn joined the Big East.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Saudi Arabia has stepped up direct engagement with Iran to try and contain a war in the Middle East that is causing havoc and stressing global markets, according to several European officials.—
Donato Paolo Mancini,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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His Eagle project was the demolition of some old baseball dugouts in Glendale, said Darin Life, former committee chairman for Troop 221.—
ALLEN G. BREED,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
His Eagle project was the demolition of some old baseball dugouts in Glendale, said Darin Life, former committee chairman for Troop 221.—
Allen G. Breed,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg was assessed the first technical foul of his NBA career during Dallas’ loss to the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.—
R.J. Coyle,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Detroit is in the middle of a rough patch with four straight losses, but still holds the East’s top record at 45-18.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extermination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extermination. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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