eradicate

verb

erad·​i·​cate i-ˈra-də-ˌkāt 

eradicated; eradicating

transitive verb

1

: to do away with as completely as if by pulling up by the roots

programs to eradicate illiteracy

2

: to pull up by the roots

eradicable

i-ˈra-di-kə-bəl 

adjective

eradication

i-ˌra-də-ˈkā-shən 

noun

eradicator

i-ˈra-di-ˌkā-tər 

noun

Did you know?

The Root of Eradicate Is, Literally, Root

Given that eradicate first meant "to pull up by the roots," it's not surprising that the root of eradicate means, in fact, "root." Eradicate, which first turned up in English in the 16th century, comes from eradicatus, the past participle of the Latin verb eradicare. Eradicare, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word radix, meaning "root" or "radish." Although eradicate began life as a word for literal uprooting, by the mid-17th century it had developed a metaphorical application to removing things the way one might yank an undesirable weed up by the roots. Other descendants of radix in English include radical and radish. Even the word root itself is related; it comes from the same ancient word that gave Latin radix.

Synonyms

• abolish
• annihilate
• black out
• blot out
• cancel
• clean (up)
• efface
• erase
• expunge
• exterminate
• extirpate
• liquidate
• obliterate
• root (out)
• rub out
• snuff (out)
• stamp (out)
• sweep (away)
• wipe out

Choose the Right Synonym for eradicate

exterminate, extirpate, eradicate, uproot mean to effect the destruction or abolition of something.

exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Examples of eradicate in a Sentence

The disease has now been completely eradicated.

His ambition is to eradicate poverty in his community.

Recent Examples on the Web

Five came from teams that posted losing records, leading to bad tendencies that need to be eradicated as quickly as possible. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024

She's violated her oath, eradicated our sovereign border, and unleashed an army of gangs and criminal migrants from prisons and jails. —NBC News, 3 Nov. 2024

Pest control specialists have since visited the location and taken steps to eradicate the infestation, and the bugs pose no ongoing risk to the public, according to Kwik Trip public relations officer David Niemi. —Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

Israel’s bombardment of Lebanon in its attempt to eradicate Hezbollah has led to calls for the resurrection of a nearly two-decade-old resolution that its proponents argue would help restore peace. —Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 26 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin eradicatus, past participle of eradicare, from e- + radic-, radix root — more at root

First Known Use

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

eradicate

verb

erad·​i·​cate i-ˈrad-ə-ˌkāt 

eradicated; eradicating

: to remove by or as if by uprooting : eliminate, destroy

eradicate weeds

eradicating a disease

eradication

-ˌrad-ə-ˈkā-shən 

noun

Etymology

from Latin eradicatus, past participle of eradicare "to root out, pull up by the roots," from e-, ex- "out, forth" and radic-, radix "root" — related to radical, radish see Word History at radical