eradicate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
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
Related Words
See abolish.
Other Word Forms
- eradicable adjective
- eradicably adverb
- eradicant adjective
- eradication noun
- eradicative adjective
- eradicator noun
- noneradicative adjective
- uneradicated adjective
- uneradicative adjective
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
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.
She praised the social media companies, who have been "really amazing", for their help in trying to tackle online abuse but Carter is unsure how the issue could be completely eradicated.
From BBC
“Corruption must be countered, graft must be eradicated, and evil must be eradicated, so that corrupt elements have no place to hide.”
The Department for Health and Social Care says so far there are 20 sites where it has been eradicated and that it is investing £1.6 billion across the next four years.
From BBC
Scotland's finance secretary Shona Robison says the spending proposals help families and will aid efforts to eradicate child poverty.
From BBC
In 2024, Streeting committed on 5 Live to return within a year with an update on his mission to eradicate what he once described as "antique technology".
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
