as in to eradicate
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 exterminate
Trump, in other words, is claiming the power to exterminate multi-billion dollar businesses, with over a thousand lawyers and as many support staff, to punish them for things as innocuous as representing a Democrat in 2016.
—
Ian Millhiser, Vox, 29 Mar. 2025
This early generation of Soviet spies was mostly exterminated during Stalin’s purges of the 1930s.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Dachau wasn’t created to exterminate Jews: the Nazis opened it in 1933, soon after Hitler took power, and among the first held there were Communists, Social Democrats, and other political opponents.
—Massimo Calabresi/dachau, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
In the human body, for example, phages typically don’t exterminate their host bacteria.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exterminate
Ian Millhiser, Vox, 29 Mar. 2025
This early generation of Soviet spies was mostly exterminated during Stalin’s purges of the 1930s.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Dachau wasn’t created to exterminate Jews: the Nazis opened it in 1933, soon after Hitler took power, and among the first held there were Communists, Social Democrats, and other political opponents.
—Massimo Calabresi/dachau, TIME, 22 Feb. 2025
In the human body, for example, phages typically don’t exterminate their host bacteria.
—Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exterminate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exterminate
Verb
-
Despite this success, these drugs do not completely eradicate the chronic lung infections that plague individuals with cystic fibrosis.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Measles, once eradicated, is again spreading in New Mexico and West Texas and even in our own area, where vaccine skepticism has long had a foothold in some parts of the ultra-orthodox Jewish community.—
New York Daily News,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Right behind was Rory McIlroy, who tried to erase from his memory that sloppy finish in the first round and roared into contention to put the career Grand Slam back into view.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2025
-
The relief that Wednesday’s partial tariff pause brought to Wall Street lasted for less than 24 hours, as Thursday saw stocks fall sharply in another volatile session and erase a big chunk of the prior rally.—
Jesse Pound,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves (R.) has signed legislation to abolish the state’s income tax.—
Douglas Carswell,
National Review,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Democrats who previously demanded that the Senate abolish the filibuster are now furious that the party didn’t use it.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The gangs have resumed kidnappings, while burning hospitals and destroying schools.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
-
Eventually, the artwork was destroyed.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exterminate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exterminate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share