exterminate

[ ik-stur-muh-neyt ]
/ ɪkˈstɜr məˌneɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR exterminate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ex·ter·mi·nat·ed, ex·ter·mi·nat·ing.

to get rid of by destroying; destroy totally; extirpate: to exterminate an enemy; to exterminate insects.

Origin of exterminate

1535–45; < Latin exterminātus, past participle of extermināre to extermine; see -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM exterminate

Words nearby exterminate

extenuatory, exterior, exterior angle, exteriority, exteriorize, exterminate, exterminator, exterminatory, extermine, extern, external

Words related to extermination

liquidation, eradication, slaughter, genocide, elimination, extinction, destruction, excision, obliteration, decimation, extinguishment

Example sentences from the Web for extermination

British Dictionary definitions for extermination

exterminate
/ (ɪkˈstɜːmɪˌneɪt) /

verb

(tr) to destroy (living things, esp pests or vermin) completely; annihilate; eliminate

Derived forms of exterminate

exterminable, adjective extermination, noun exterminative or exterminatory, adjective exterminator, noun

Word Origin for exterminate

C16: from Latin extermināre to drive away, from terminus boundary