Synonym Chooser

How does the verb extirpate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of extirpate are eradicate, exterminate, and uproot. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," 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 is eradicate a more appropriate choice than extirpate?

Although the words eradicate and extirpate have much in common, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

When would exterminate be a good substitute for extirpate?

While in some cases nearly identical to extirpate, exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When can uproot be used instead of extirpate?

The words uproot and extirpate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Examples 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 extirpate Phil Beasley, Plantation The last straw was Oct. 7 Hamas must be extirpated from Gaza. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2024 The way to extirpate this bias is by realizing that the concept of death is not an all-or-nothing matter, but rather a spectrum—something that comes in degrees. Susana Monsó, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 It’s believed the owl with bright yellow eyes has been extirpated from 16% of its range in parts of the coast and Central Valley. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2024 Hunted heavily across Polynesia for their dazzling feathers, the lorikeets were extirpated from nearly all of their native islands by 1900, with Rimatara standing as one final bastion for the birds. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for extirpate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extirpate
Verb
  • On this day in 1979: Scientists declared that smallpox had been eradicated about a dozen years after the World Health Organization intensified its vaccination push and prior requirements in many countries in the Americas and Europe.
    Mark Jones, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2024
  • In the 1950s, an ambitious international campaign was launched to eradicate the insect in the north and center of the continent.
    Geraldine Castro, WIRED, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • One dud doesn’t erase the good performances Young has put on tape over the past month.
    Joseph Person, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
  • All 39 who were pardoned, including Good Nelson, will have their convictions erased from their records.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Kash Patel vows to abolish the ‘deep state’; Trump’s FBI pick thrills MAGA base Robby Soave and Steven Olikara weigh in on Donald Trump’s nominee to spearhead the FBI, Kash Patel.
    The Hill, The Hill, 2 Dec. 2024
  • Rankin believed that without a widespread moral awakening, the prospect was slim that slavery could be abolished.
    TIME, TIME, 2 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Al Shahabi also asked on Facebook where the recordings of surveillance cameras at regime security branches had gone, why some documents had been destroyed and why human rights groups had not done more to protect records.
    Raja Razek, CNN, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Shacks and buildings were left completely destroyed when the cyclone struck the nation hampered by poverty.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024

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Thesaurus Entries Near extirpate

Cite this Entry

“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extirpate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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