exterminate
ik-STUR-muh-nayt
/ɪkˈstɜːrmɪneɪt/
To destroy or kill completely, especially a whole group of pests or unwanted living things.
Exterminate implies total annihilation of a pest population, leaving absolutely none behind.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin exterminare, meaning 'to drive out or banish.' It is built from ex- (out) and terminus (boundary, limit). Originally, it meant to literally banish someone beyond the borders of a country, only later evolving to mean total destruction.
Word relationships
- annihilate: Annihilate is broader and can apply to military forces, physical matter, or abstract concepts, whereas exterminate is heavily associated with living pests.
- wipe out: Wipe out is an informal phrasal verb that can refer to populations, finances, or physical structures.
- preserve: Preserve means to keep alive and protect from harm or extinction.
- propagate: Propagate means to breed or multiply specimens of a plant or animal.
Commonly confused with
- eradicate: Exterminate is typically used for physical populations of pests, while eradicate is used for diseases, social issues, or abstract concepts.
Word family
- exterminator (noun): A professional whose job is to kill pests.
- extermination (noun): The act of completely destroying a pest population.
Collocations
- exterminate pests
- completely exterminate
- exterminate a colony
Example sentences
- "They did not seem to be wasting ammunition on us, but were exterminating us." A famous science fiction novel describing total destruction.
Memory hook
Think of an 'exterminator' putting an 'ex' (cross) over the 'terminus' (the end) of the bugs' lives. Putting an 'ex' on the bugs' lives.
When not to use
Do not use when referring to abstract concepts like diseases or poverty; use 'eradicate' instead.
Fun facts
- The Daleks, famous villains from the sci-fi show Doctor Who, popularized the catchphrase 'Exterminate!' in their robotic voices starting in 1963.
Explore more words
extinguish, sterilize, incinerate, vanquish, exhaust, expunge
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.