extirpate

verb

ex·​tir·​pate ˈek-stər-ˌpāt How to pronounce extirpate (audio)
extirpated; extirpating

transitive verb

1
a
: to destroy completely : wipe out
b
: to pull up by the root
2
: to cut out by surgery
extirpation noun
extirpator noun

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Dig Out the History of Extirpate

You don’t have to dig too deep into the history of extirpate to discover that its roots are in, well, roots (and stumps). Extirpate grew out of a combining of the Latin prefix ex-, meaning “out,” and the Latin noun stirps, “trunk” or “root.” Among the earliest definitions of extirpate in English were “to uproot” and “to clear of stumps,” as well as the broader meaning of “to destroy completely” or “wipe out.” While today we often encounter extirpate in relation to plant and animal species that have been regrettably removed from a specific region or in total, intangibles such as evil or prejudice, for example, may also be extirpated. We hope this helps but if you find yourself stumped the next time you encounter extirpate, just remember we’re rooting for you.

Choose the Right Synonym for extirpate

exterminate, extirpate, eradicate, uproot mean to effect the destruction or abolition of something.

exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Examples of extirpate in a Sentence

the triumph of modern medicine in extirpating certain diseases
Recent Examples on the Web Their historic range included parts of Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Mexico and Texas, but jaguars were extirpated from the United States by the mid-20th century due to loss of habitat and hunting. Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 Jan. 2024 For some 50 years, the two main predators of moose--wolves and grizzlies--have been absent from the southern portion of the Yellowstone ecosystem, extirpated by humans. Mark Wheeler, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 In their wisdom, voters sought to extirpate Donald Trump from the White House in 2020 with surgical precision while leaving much of the Republican Party around him intact. Noah Rothman, National Review, 17 Jan. 2024 The building of Columbia Basin hydroelectric dams in the mid-20th century extirpated salmon from much of the upper Columbia River. B. “toastie” Oaster, ProPublica, 19 Jan. 2024 Today, however, there is very little evidence that timber rattlers are recolonizing dens from which they have been extirpated, even in undeveloped areas. Thomas Palmer, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 After wolves were extirpated from the ecosystem by hunting and trapping in the early 20th century, herbivores razed vegetation in wooded areas. Gabe Allen, Discover Magazine, 30 Dec. 2023 While black bears were nearly extirpated from Louisiana by the 1950s and 60s, the population has since rebounded. Kris Millgate, Field & Stream, 19 Oct. 2023 The presence of wolves in Maine is hotly debated after they were extirpated from the Northeast due to centuries of bounties, habitat alteration and development. Ret Talbot, Discover Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extirpate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin exstirpatus, past participle of exstirpare, from ex- + stirp-, stirps trunk, root

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of extirpate was in 1535

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Dictionary Entries Near extirpate

Cite this Entry

“Extirpate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extirpate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

extirpate

verb
ex·​tir·​pate ˈek-stər-ˌpāt How to pronounce extirpate (audio)
extirpated; extirpating
1
: to pull up by the roots
2
: to destroy completely
extirpation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on extirpate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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