extermination
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the act of killing all the insects or small animals that are causing a problem in a place.
the total eradication of a population of pests or vermin within a specific environment.
Simple“The landlord ordered the extermination of the rats in the basement.”
In context“The city council implemented a rigorous program for the extermination of invasive species that were threatening the local ecosystem.”
UsageOften used in the context of pest control or environmental management.
Synonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
the killing of a large group of people, especially during a war or by a government.
the systematic and total destruction of a group of people; frequently used in historical and political discourse regarding genocide.
Simple“The museum was built to remember those who suffered during the campaign of extermination.”
In context“Historians documented the systematic extermination of the indigenous population during the colonial expansion into the interior.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very heavy, serious word. When applied to humans, it implies a lack of humanity and is often associated with war crimes.
SynonymsAntonyms
“They committed mass murder, extermination, mass rape, forced expulsions.”
Borrowed from Middle French extermination, itself a learned borrowing from Ecclesiastical Latin exterminātiō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.