区别辨析destroy、exterminate与extinguish

destroy、exterminate与extinguish这3个动词均有“消灭”之意。

destroy : 指通过杀戮或终止某人某物的机能,使之无用或毁灭。

  • Most of the old part of the city was destroyed by bombs during the war.
    该城的大部分老城区都在战争中被炸毁了。
  • The accident seemed to have completely/totally destroyed his confidence.
    这场事故似乎已彻底击垮了他的信心。

exterminate : 指大量地、成批地杀害、消灭。

  • Once cockroaches get into a building, it's very difficult to exterminate them.
    一旦楼里有了蟑螂,就很难将其彻底消灭。
  • Millions of Jewish people were exterminated in concentration camps in the Second World War.
    二战期间,数百万犹太人在集中营被集体屠杀。

extinguish : 原义指灭火,转义后暗示生命、希望等像火一样地消灭、熄灭。

  • to extinguish a cigarette
    掐灭香烟
  • Nothing could extinguish his love for her.
    什么都无法熄灭他对她的爱情之火。