Synonym Chooser

How does the verb eradicate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of eradicate are exterminate, extirpate, and uproot. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

In what contexts can exterminate take the place of eradicate?

Although the words exterminate and eradicate have much in common, exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When is it sensible to use extirpate instead of eradicate?

While in some cases nearly identical to eradicate, 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

When can uproot be used instead of eradicate?

The words uproot and eradicate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of eradicate Policymakers can acknowledge the complicated history of vaccines, public health and race, while also recognizing how advancements in science and medicine have given us the opportunity to eradicate many of these diseases in the United States today. Stacie Kershner, The Conversation, 22 Sep. 2025 The drop-off between the starting player and his backup was still too great in some areas of Arsenal’s squad last season, but that has now been eradicated. Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 21 Sep. 2025 Picture show New Zealand is planning to eradicate millions of invasive animals that prey on the country's rare birds, the kākāpō and the takahē. Brittney Melton, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025 Childhood vaccinations are widely considered effective and safe—eradicating illnesses that once claimed kids’ lives, such as mumps and polio. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for eradicate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for eradicate
Verb
  • These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Those Padres quickly erased a one-run deficit and eventually won on a walk-off home run by Steve Garvey that remains perhaps the franchise’s greatest moment.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Last week, Reform pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which gives migrants settled status in Britain.
    Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Among 16 to 24-year-olds, 67 percent wanted to abolish compared to 30 percent who would keep the crown.
    Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a five-floor apartment building in the Solomyanskyi district was partially destroyed and caught fire.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Mexico built a hydroelectric dam, where these golden barrel cactuses live and in an instant their environment was destroyed and this species was almost wiped out.
    Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Eradicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/eradicate. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

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