extirpar

Senses

1. 1.

   to remove surgically

   to extract or take out (tissue, organs, etc.) by surgical means

2. 2.

   to uproot; to eradicate

   to pull out by the roots or eliminate completely (disease, evil, plants)

Examples

• "El cirujano tuvo que extirpar el tumor para salvar la vida del paciente."

  The surgeon had to remove the tumor to save the patient's life.

• "Es necesario extirpar las malas hierbas del jardín."

  It is necessary to uproot the weeds from the garden.

• "La corrupción es difícil de extirpar de las instituciones públicas."

  Corruption is difficult to eradicate from public institutions.

Usage

Formal and technical register, most common in medical and figurative contexts. Often used with organs, tumors, diseases, or abstract evils. Synonym: arrancar (more colloquial for uprooting); erradicar (for eradication).