Definition of: exterminate

(ik·stûr′mə·nāt) v.t. ·nat·ed, ·nat·ing
To destroy entirely; annihilate. Also Obs. ex·ter′mine. [<L exterminatus, pp. of exterminare <ex- out + terminus a boundary]
—ex·ter′mi·na·ble adjective
—ex·ter′mi·na′tive, ex·ter′mi·na·to′ry (-tôr′ē, -tō′rē) adjective Synonyms: annihilate, banish, demolish, destroy, eradicate, expel, extirpate, overthrow, remove, uproot. The word exterminate is applied to groups or masses of men or animals; individuals are said to be banished, expelled, destroyed, etc. Eradicate is primarily applied to numbers or groups of plants; a single tree may be uprooted, but is not said to be eradicated. To extirpate is to destroy the very stock, so that the race can never be restored; we speak of eradicating a disease, of extirpating a cancer, exterminating wild beasts or hostile tribes; we seek to eradicate or extirpate vice. See ABOLISH. Antonyms: augment, beget, cherish, colonize, develop, foster, increase, plant, populate, propagate, replenish, settle.