to eradicate
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eradicate
To completely and permanently destroy a group of living things, such as an animal or plant species, or a disease.
Durch weltweite Impfkampagnen konnten die Pocken ausgerottet werden.
Smallpox was able to be eradicated through worldwide vaccination campaigns.
eradicate
In a figurative sense, to completely eliminate a bad habit, a false idea, or a social problem.
Es ist eine gesellschaftliche Aufgabe, Rassismus und Vorurteile auszurotten.
It is a social responsibility to eradicate racism and prejudice.
'Ausrotten' (to eradicate) is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus-' stands at the end of the sentence in main clauses, but remains attached to the verb in subordinate clauses.
Manche Krankheiten rottet man nur schwer aus.
Some diseases are difficult to eradicate.
The word comes from 'aus' (out) and 'rotten', which is related to 'Wurzel' (root). The literal meaning is therefore 'to tear out by the root' and describes complete destruction.
Die Gärtnerin musste das Unkraut mit den Wurzeln ausrotten.
The gardener had to eradicate the weeds by the roots.
The context makes the meaning clear: if it is about living things such as animals, plants, or diseases, the literal destruction is meant. If it is about abstract things such as prejudices or poverty, the figurative meaning is meant.
Es ist ein Ziel der WHO, die Malaria auszurotten.
It is one of the WHO's goals to eradicate malaria.
In its literal meaning, 'ausrotten' (to eradicate) is often used in biological or medical contexts. Typical objects are: 'eine Tierart' (an animal species), 'eine Pflanzenart' (a plant species), 'eine Krankheit' (a disease), or 'ein Virus' (a virus).
Früher gab es hier Bären, aber sie wurden vor 200 Jahren ausgerottet.
There used to be bears here, but they were eradicated 200 years ago.
In its figurative meaning, 'ausrotten' (to eradicate) refers to negative social or personal phenomena. Typical objects are: 'Vorurteile' (prejudices), 'Hass' (hatred), 'Armut' (poverty), 'eine schlechte Angewohnheit' (a bad habit), or 'das Böse' (evil).
Er versucht, seine schlechte Angewohnheit des Zuspätkommens auszurotten.
He is trying to eradicate his bad habit of being late.
to destroy / annihilate
Vernichten generally refers to completely destroying something and can also apply to individual living beings. Ausrotten means eliminating an entire species, population, or disease permanently. So vernichten is appropriate for individual pests, while ausrotten is appropriate for their entire population.
Das langfristige Programm soll die Schädlingsart in der gesamten Region ausrotten.
The long-term program is intended to eradicate the pest species throughout the entire region.
Das Mittel vernichtet alle Schädlinge auf diesem Feld.
The treatment destroys all the pests in this field.
