extermination

noun

Definition of exterminationnext
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the virtual extermination of the native tribes by the colonizers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 extermination The extermination company Terminix ranked 50 cities in the United States with the worst rodent infestations and Sacramento is on the list. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado updated October 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2026 For properties other than single-family homes and duplexes, the statute addresses reasonable provisions for clean and safe common areas along with services such as garbage removal and extermination of certain pests. — Emma Clapp, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026 California’s system of water law dates back to the Gold Rush, when the state government promoted the extermination of Native people to make way for white settlers. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 But hope is not lost in Shelley’s reworking of the bleak vision of postapocalypse as terminal and total extermination of life. — Eileen Hunt, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026 Hitler and his Nazis committed the most heinous crimes against humanity, including the extermination of six million Jews, and more than three million non-Jews, because of the Aryan supremacy ideology. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026 The trailer opens with confirmation that Godzilla was not fully destroyed and offers a first look at a new kaiju extermination operation, alongside a mix of new and returning characters. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 The ongoing tempest includes Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley) having to prevent a Safeguard extermination as the new Head of IT this year, and the revelation of ex-security chief Robert Sims (Common) regarding Bernard (Tim Robbins). — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Decreasing habitat, poaching, and extermination are some of the reasons why cheetahs are endangered. — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extermination
  1. destruction
  2. devastation
  3. extinction
  4. havoc
  5. demolition
  6. loss
Noun
  • About 90% of the city was flooded ​following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, according to the White House.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect, 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano of Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage, and felony injury to a monument, court records show.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • The magnitude of the devastation is made personal for all of us.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The painting is named after a Paul Celan poem about the losses and devastation of the Holocaust.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • Recently, Bezos’ Earth Fund committed $100 million to a new environmental alliance looking to save endangered species from extinction.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Oct. 2026
  • A week ago, another study in the journal Nature by the IUCN found that nearly 44% of reef-building coral species face an elevated risk of extinction due to climate change.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of extinction
Noun
  • Lignel began conversations with the gallery in 2008 as a recession wrought havoc upon the New York art market and the global economy.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Lucas Calderon, owner of Holy Crab, a Coral Gables seafood business that specializes in stone crab home delivery, recalls the havoc Milton wrought on the industry.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • By Friday afternoon, Israeli forces had started demolitions in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the job cuts, threats of land reduction, talks of privatization and even demolition within some parks, Indigenous groups and park partners have persevered.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of demolition
Noun
  • Fifth-year cornerback Jaden Mickey made some big stops, including a pass breakup, while the defensive front produced four sacks for 37 yards and seven tackles for loss.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • After scoring just four points on six field-goal attempts in Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, Adebayo was much more aggressive in looking for his own offense on Saturday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of loss

Browse Nearby Words

exterminating
extermination
exterminations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extermination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extermination. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All