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。
- It took the firefighters several hours to extinguish the flames.
消防队员花了几个小时才将烈焰扑灭。 - 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。
