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exterminar

eks-tehr-mee-NAR/eksteɾmiˈnaɾ/

to exterminate

Also: to wipe out, to annihilate
VerbB1regular ar
A row of several red ants being swept away by a large wooden broom on a clean floor.
gerundexterminando
past Participleexterminado
infinitiveexterminar

📝 In Action

Llamaron a un profesional para exterminar las cucarachas.

B1

They called a professional to exterminate the cockroaches.

El veneno es muy fuerte y puede exterminar a toda la colonia de hormigas.

B1

The poison is very strong and can wipe out the entire ant colony.

La guerra amenazaba con exterminar a la población civil.

B2

The war threatened to annihilate the civilian population.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • exterminar una plaga – to exterminate a pest/infestation
  • exterminar insectos – to exterminate insects

to eradicate

Also: to stamp out
VerbC1regular arformal
A bright green healthy plant growing through a small crack in a dark, dry wasteland.
gerundexterminando
past Participleexterminado
infinitiveexterminar

📝 In Action

El gobierno busca exterminar el hambre en la región.

C1

The government seeks to eradicate hunger in the region.

Sus palabras exterminaron cualquier rastro de esperanza.

C2

His words stamped out any trace of hope.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • erradicar (to eradicate)
  • extirpar (to root out)

Common Collocations

  • exterminar la pobreza – to eradicate poverty
  • exterminar la corrupción – to stamp out corruption

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesexterminaran
yoexterminara
túexterminaras
vosotrosexterminarais
nosotrosextermináramos
él/ella/ustedexterminara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesexterminen
yoextermine
túextermines
vosotrosexterminéis
nosotrosexterminemos
él/ella/ustedextermine

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesexterminaron
yoexterminé
túexterminaste
vosotrosexterminasteis
nosotrosexterminamos
él/ella/ustedexterminó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesexterminaban
yoexterminaba
túexterminabas
vosotrosexterminabais
nosotrosexterminábamos
él/ella/ustedexterminaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesexterminan
yoextermino
túexterminas
vosotrosextermináis
nosotrosexterminamos
él/ella/ustedextermina
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "exterminar" in Spanish:

to annihilate→to eradicate→to exterminate→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: exterminar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence correctly uses 'exterminar' for a pest control context?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
exterminio(extermination/slaughter) — Noun
exterminador(exterminator) — Noun
exterminable(exterminable) — Adjective
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From Latin 'exterminare,' which literally meant 'to drive beyond the boundaries.' It comes from 'ex-' (out) and 'terminus' (boundary). Over time, the meaning shifted from just kicking someone out to destroying them completely.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: exterminateFrench: exterminer

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'exterminar' the same as 'matar'?

Not exactly. 'Matar' means to kill one or more individuals. 'Exterminar' is much stronger and means to kill every single member of a group so that nothing remains.

Can I use 'exterminar' for finishing a book?

No. For finishing a book or a task, you should use 'terminar' or 'acabar.' Using 'exterminar' would imply you physically destroyed the book into dust!

Is it a common word in daily life?

It's common if you are talking about insects (pest control) or history. In other daily situations, it might sound a bit dramatic or too intense.