verb
exterminate
ehk-STUH-mih-nayt
verb
1
To destroy or kill off completely, especially a group of pests or people.
"The company was hired to exterminate the rats in the basement."
How to Use Exterminate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo kill off or wipe out completely, usually a pest or population.
When to use it
A strong word — used for pests, or, in a more disturbing sense, for genocide; not used casually.
Common pairings
exterminate pests
exterminate vermin
Word Forms
exterminated past tense, exterminates singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “exterminate”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The company was hired to _____ the rats in the basement.
Etymology
From Latin exterminare, "to drive out" or "destroy", from ex- ("thoroughly") plus terminus ("boundary, end").