eradicate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
eradicates,
present (3rd person singular)
-
eradicated,
past participle, past
-
eradicating
present participle
-
to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate.
to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.
- Synonyms:
- annihilate, exterminate, uproot, obliterate
-
to erase by rubbing or by means of a chemical solvent.
to eradicate a spot.
-
to pull up by the roots.
to eradicate weeds.
verb
-
to obliterate; stamp out
-
to pull or tear up by the roots
Synonym Usage
See abolish.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
eradicationnoun
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eradicatornoun
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eradicableadjective
-
eradicantadjective
-
eradicativeadjective
-
noneradicativeadjective
-
uneradicatedadjective
-
uneradicativeadjective
-
eradicablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
eradicatesimple
-
eradicatessimple
-
have eradicatedperfect
-
has eradicatedperfect
-
am eradicatingprogressive
-
are eradicatingprogressive
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is eradicatingprogressive
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have been eradicatingperfect progressive
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has been eradicatingperfect progressive
Past
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eradicatedsimple
-
had eradicatedperfect
-
was eradicatingprogressive
-
were eradicatingprogressive
-
had been eradicatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of eradicate
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin ērādīcātus “rooted out” (past participle of ērādīcāre ), equivalent to ē- e- 1 + rādīc- (stem of rādīx ) root 1 + -ātus -ate 1
Explanation
To eradicate something is to get rid of it, to destroy it, and to kiss it goodbye. Eradicate is from the Latin word eradicare meaning "to root out." When you yank that weed up by the roots, it has been eradicated; it's not coming back. Eradicate often means to kill a bunch of somethings, like what you want the poison to do to the roach family and their extended relatives living in your house, and what we thought we did to bedbugs. You can also eradicate corruption, poverty, or diseases. Although there are all kinds of things to get rid of, we usually want to only eradicate the bad things.
Vocabulary lists containing eradicate
The Maze Runner
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Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
AI is surpassing human abilities in pursuits from mathematics to computer programming, while threatening to alter or even eradicate many jobs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
All to eradicate a supposed threat that he claimed he had “obliterated” a year earlier.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
At the same time, UC San Diego researchers are developing next-generation genetic technologies that could strengthen future efforts to control or eradicate screwworm.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Vaccination is part of a programme to eradicate bovine TB in Wales, but it is a controversial topic.
From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026
For a brief moment, he thought that he might try to use his gift, to call forth the vibrating power and eradicate the stinging poisonous rash on his arms.
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
While it’s not clear exactly how this happens, experts said that one explanation may be that exercise helps fight cancer by enhancing how the immune system targets and eradicates cancer cells.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2024
The immune system then recognizes and eradicates those spike proteins, thus learning how to defend against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
From Salon ● Oct. 13, 2022
Johnson added, “It helps the drought but by no means eradicates the drought.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 17, 2022
This “Dune” almost completely eradicates the arid, meandering vision and miscues of David Lynch’s 1984 film adaptation.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 20, 2022
“We believe that preparation eradicates cowardice, which we define as the failure to act in the midst of fear,” says Four.
From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth
The New World screwworm, eradicated 60 years ago, has re-emerged in Texas cattle, threatening over $700 million in annual losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
It’s also because after being eradicated in the United States in the 1960s, the flesh-eating screwworm is back: A few cases have emerged in Texas.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Still, the resurgence of the parasite, which was eradicated in the U.S. in the 1960s, comes at a time when the cattle industry is already facing drought, tariff battles and other challenges.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026
In the US, the parasite was considered eradicated in 1966 but there have been cases since, including an outbreak in the 1970s.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 2026
It was like when Père Lafontant installed communal latrines in Cange, which all but eradicated typhoid in the village.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
"Thailand spent 15 years investing in alternative livelihood before starting eradicating," Ok Serei said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026
Completely eradicating the paper check, however, would be a steep psychological hill to climb.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
“The task of eradicating the soil and conditions that breed corruption is still arduous.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
Nicola Sturgeon famously made eradicating the attainment gap her "top priority" back in 2016.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
Unfortunately for the farmers, the death rate then dropped in the second year to 90 percent and eventually to 25 percent, frustrating hopes of eradicating rabbits completely from Australia.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
