extirpated

IPA/ˈek.stɜː.peɪt/
KK[ˈɛkstɚpˌetəd]IPA/ˈek.stɚ.peɪt/

extirpated — verb

  • extirpatedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • extirpateds3rd person singular
  • extirpateding-ing form
  • extirpatededpast simple

1. to get rid of something bad or unwanted so completely that nothing of it is left

1.動詞及物C2
釋義

to get rid of something bad or unwanted so completely that nothing of it is left — for example, wiping out a disease from a whole region, ending a harmful practice in society, or destroying an invasive species in an area.

例句

The government worked hard to extirpate polio from every village.

extirpate + disease (common pattern)

Through a new law, the government hopes to extirpate bribery in local politics.

同義詞
  • eradicate

    the closest synonym; also suggests total destruction, very common in public health contexts

  • exterminate

    stronger emotional tone; often about killing pests or people

  • wipe out

    informal phrasal verb; much more common in everyday speech

反義詞
  • establish

    creating or setting up something new

  • preserve

    keeping something safe from harm or change

文法句型

extirpate + noun phrase (disease, corruption, harmful practice)

用法筆記

Frequently used in formal writing about social problems, diseases, or harmful practices. Almost never used in casual conversation — speakers prefer 'wipe out', 'get rid of', or 'stamp out'.

常見錯誤

The firefighter extirpated the fire.
The firefighter extinguished the fire.
💡'Extirpate' is not used for putting out a fire; use 'extinguish' or 'put out'.
I need to extirpate these old documents.
I need to get rid of these old documents.
💡'Extirpate' sounds unnatural for everyday tasks. Use simpler verbs in daily life.

2. to pull a plant out of the ground together with its whole root system, so that i

2.動詞及物C2
釋義

to pull a plant out of the ground together with its whole root system, so that it cannot grow again.

例句

The gardener used a small tool to extirpate every weed from the soil.

extirpate + weed / unwanted plant (literal sense)

Rafael and his daughter tried to extirpate the old bush near the gate.

同義詞
  • uproot

    the common everyday word for pulling plants out by the roots

  • pull up

    informal phrasal verb; the most natural choice in normal speech

反義詞
  • plant

    putting a plant into the ground to grow

  • sow

    scattering seeds on or in the ground

文法句型

extirpate + plant noun phrase (weed, bush, tree)

用法筆記

This is the oldest, most literal meaning of the word. However, it now sounds very formal and is rarely used in gardening contexts — speakers typically say 'pull up', 'dig up', or 'uproot' instead.

常見錯誤

She extirpated the carrot from the ground.
She pulled the carrot from the ground.
💡'Extirpate' sounds too formal for everyday vegetable picking. Use 'pull up' or 'dig up'.

3. to cut out and remove a diseased or unwanted organ, growth, or tissue from the b

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to cut out and remove a diseased or unwanted organ, growth, or tissue from the body during a medical operation.

例句

The surgeon needed to extirpate the damaged part of Hari's stomach.

passive: be extirpated (medical context)

Doctors decided not to extirpate the growth because it was too close to the heart.

同義詞
  • excise

    the standard medical term; 'extirpate' sounds stronger and more dramatic

  • remove

    the general everyday word; much more common and less formal

  • cut out

    informal phrasal verb; natural in patient conversations

反義詞
  • implant

    putting an organ or device into the body surgically

  • transplant

    moving an organ from one body to another

文法句型

extirpate + organ/tissue noun phrase

用法筆記

Always transitive. The subject is a medical professional or surgical team, and the object is a specific organ, growth, or tissue. Distinguish from 'excise', which also means cut out but is the more common medical term. 'Extirpate' is more emphatic — it implies removing something that is harmful.

常見錯誤

The doctor extirpated my tooth.
The dentist pulled out my tooth.
💡For teeth, 'extract' or 'pull out' is the natural term. 'Extirpate' is used for internal organs or growths.
The nurse extirpated the bandage.
The nurse removed the bandage.
💡'Extirpate' is only for major surgical removal, not for dressing changes.