extirpate
verb
To root out and destroy completely; to eradicate something regarded as undesirable. Suggests thorough elimination at the source.
Etymology
From Latin "extirpare" (to root out), from "ex" (out) + "stirps" (stem, root). The word emphasizes removal from the very roots.
Examples in Use
- 1.
"Efforts to extirpate the invasive species took decades."
- 2.
"The regime tried to extirpate all political opposition."
- 3.
"Smallpox was successfully extirpated through global vaccination."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
Smallpox is the only human disease to be completely extirpated. The last natural case occurred in 1977. Only two known samples remain, kept in laboratories in the US and Russia.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 9 letters (E, X, T, I, R, P, A, T, E)
Scrabble Value: 18 points
Tip: Words ending in "TE" are often good scoring opportunities.
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