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
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Recent Examples of extermination
The study continued until deportations to the Treblinka extermination camp, where many of the researchers would ultimately perish, began, in 1942.
—
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Besides extermination, these companies also may be able to assist with locating and sealing entry points or making other recommendations for exclusion.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But the spread of agriculture and extermination of prairie dogs have sharply reduced the owl’s western populations.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The four women, three of whom were Jewish, were all inmates of Auschwitz, the Nazis’ most notorious extermination camp outside the southern Polish city of Oświęcim.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
Szames’ likeness and story are part of the RUTH exhibition, which opened in January and includes life-size cutouts and keepsakes of San Diego County survivors of the Nazi extermination campaign against European Jews.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Yet this divide-and-conquer approach, combined with the relentless attacks on civilians, has also entrenched resistance among ordinary Gazans, who now perceive Israel as undertaking a war of extermination.
—Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
The Holocaust led to the extermination of 6 million Jews — so recent that some who lived it are still living.
—Seth Lavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Clayton Dalton, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2025
Besides extermination, these companies also may be able to assist with locating and sealing entry points or making other recommendations for exclusion.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
An extermination of the brutes in the Middle East, presided over by Obama’s successors, has been followed by a swift cancellation by Trumpian decree of the postracial age.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But the spread of agriculture and extermination of prairie dogs have sharply reduced the owl’s western populations.
—Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The four women, three of whom were Jewish, were all inmates of Auschwitz, the Nazis’ most notorious extermination camp outside the southern Polish city of Oświęcim.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
Szames’ likeness and story are part of the RUTH exhibition, which opened in January and includes life-size cutouts and keepsakes of San Diego County survivors of the Nazi extermination campaign against European Jews.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2025
Yet this divide-and-conquer approach, combined with the relentless attacks on civilians, has also entrenched resistance among ordinary Gazans, who now perceive Israel as undertaking a war of extermination.
—Leila Seurat, Foreign Affairs, 26 Aug. 2025
The Holocaust led to the extermination of 6 million Jews — so recent that some who lived it are still living.
—Seth Lavin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extermination
Noun
-
The viral photos and videos of the destruction have elicited strong emotions for many Americans.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
As time passes, pressure increases, communication falters, and every decision carries the weight of potential destruction.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What remains is devastation at an almost unimaginable scale.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The devastation was so severe that rebuilding and recovery seemed years away.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Before getting protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1970, North Atlantic right whales were hunted commercially, which led to their near extinction in the early 1900s, according to the Marine Mammal Commission.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
But over exploitation often followed, leading to depletions and extinctions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
To better understand how these storms can wreak so much havoc, our research team created simulations to show how storms interact with Earth’s natural magnetic shield and trigger the dangerous geomagnetic activity that can shut down electric grids.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The images that emerged last week of the sudden demolition of the White House’s entire East Wing have inspired an array of feelings.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Trump’s recent demolition of the East Wing to construct a new multimillion-dollar ballroom has sparked a wave of criticism, including from historians and preservation groups.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Toronto Blue Jays bounced back from a tough Game 3 loss to even the World Series at two games apiece following a 6-2 Game 4 victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.—
Wayne Sterling,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The situation could result in potential discipline for the Ravens, ranging from fines or loss of draft picks to possible suspensions if the NFL determines a serious violation occurred.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extermination.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extermination. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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