eradicate

[ih-rad-i-keyt]

verb (used with object)

eradicated, eradicating 

1. to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate.

   to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.

   Synonyms: annihilate, exterminate, uproot, obliterate

2. to erase by rubbing or by means of a chemical solvent.

   to eradicate a spot.

3. to pull up by the roots.

   to eradicate weeds.

eradicate

/ ɪˈrædɪˌkeɪt /

verb

1. to obliterate; stamp out

2. to pull or tear up by the roots

Other Word Forms

• eradicant adjective
• eradication noun
• eradicative adjective
• eradicator noun
• noneradicative adjective
• uneradicated adjective
• uneradicative adjective
• eradicable adjective
• eradicably adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of eradicate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of eradicate¹

C16: from Latin ērādīcāre to uproot, from _ex- ¹ + rādīx root

Synonym Study

See abolish.

Example Sentences

Fascists are doomed to failure because queerness cannot be eradicated, despite any Quiet Pride or clampdown effort, unless you wipe out humanity itself.

From Salon

“They enter almost like a zombie state until the kelp regrows, and then they eradicate it again.”

From Los Angeles Times

"By empowering women to come forward, by believing them when they do, we can go a long way towards eradicating domestic abuse."

From BBC

Our best leaders have helped deliver the progress so far, but all leaders will need to do more as we eradicate the embedded cliques and networks left behind as we clear out the volume.

From BBC

That’s one step away from “The Eternal Jew,” the infamous Nazi propaganda movie that compared Jews to rats and argued they needed to be eradicated.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abolish 
• annihilate 
• eliminate 
• erase 
• expunge 
• exterminate 
• extinguish 
• stamp out 
• uproot 
• weed out 
• wipe out