The difference between Eradicate and Exterminate
When used as verbs, eradicate means to pull up by the roots, whereas exterminate means to kill all of (a population of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.
check bellow for the other definitions of Eradicate and Exterminate
-
Eradicate as a verb (transitive):
To pull up by the roots; to uproot.
-
Eradicate as a verb (transitive):
To destroy completely; to reduce to nothing radically; to put an end to; to extirpate.
Examples:
"Smallpox was globally eradicated in 1980."
-
Exterminate as a verb (transitive):
To kill all of (a population of pests or undesirables), usually intentionally.
Examples:
"We'll use poison to exterminate the rats."
-
Exterminate as a verb (figuratively, transitive):
To bring a definite end to; finish completely.
Examples:
"The public school failed to exterminate truancy."