eradicate

1 of 2

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

eradication

2 of 2

noun

erad·​i·​ca·​tion

plural -s

: the act or process of eradicating

the eradication of weeds

the eradication of opposition groups

the eradication of white pine blister rust depends on destruction of the intermediate host

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 of eradicate

Verb

• erase
• abolish
• destroy

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

Verb

The disease has now been completely eradicated.

His ambition is to eradicate poverty in his community.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Scientists have been fighting a losing battle to eradicate them from sensitive ecosystems in South Florida. — Alex Harris august 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

How to Get Rid of Bermuda Grass Bermuda grass can take years to eradicate once it’s established, says Rossi. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026

Golden mussels can eradicate fish populations and erode delta habitats, and California farmers could lose their water. — Ashley Sharp, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

In 1979, the United States became the first country to declare polio eradicated following years of mass vaccinations; in subsequent decades, many other countries reported similar results. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun

Late Latin eradication-, eradicatio, from Latin eradicatus + -ion-, -io -ion

First Known Use

Verb

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for eradicate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

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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

Verb

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