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
  • Policymakers can acknowledge the complicated history of vaccines, public health and race, while also recognizing how advancements in science and medicine have given us the opportunity to eradicate many of these diseases in the United States today.
    Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The drop-off between the starting player and his backup was still too great in some areas of Arsenal’s squad last season, but that has now been eradicated.
    Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The surge of activity at the memorial fits into a wider Republican push to erase Democrats’ registration advantages in battleground states.
    Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Bulsara was desperate to transform himself in that mold, to erase his recent past as a gawky, shy, bucktoothed kid .
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, California has made moves to abolish biannual clock changes.
    Hannah Poukish September 23, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2025
  • To preserve slavery in its territories, Britain failed to officially recognize Haitian independence until 1838, when slavery was fully abolished in its colonies.
    Marlene L. Daut September 22, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a poignant touch, the seating within is made of wood sourced from ancient cedar trees, which previously grew near a Japanese temple destroyed by the earthquake.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
  • His death destroyed the agent’s two-year path to take down the Invernizzi family.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 21 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exterminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exterminate. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.

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