as in to erase
to destroy all traces of
time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 expunge
In addition to activities, teens will have access to resources such as job training, housing information, and support with expunging criminal records.
—
Hannah McIlree,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Most distressingly to protesters, there is no way to request the DNA samples’ destruction, and the process to get DNA profiles expunged from the database comes with extra costs and could take as long as five years.
—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Many states have already taken steps such as expunging criminal records.
—
Gene Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Secure systems like these are often set to expunge questions and answers from their memory once a session is done, so classified information is neither used for later training nor retained in any memory.
—
Erik German,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Hannah McIlree,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Most distressingly to protesters, there is no way to request the DNA samples’ destruction, and the process to get DNA profiles expunged from the database comes with extra costs and could take as long as five years.
—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
7 May 2026
Many states have already taken steps such as expunging criminal records.
—
Gene Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Secure systems like these are often set to expunge questions and answers from their memory once a session is done, so classified information is neither used for later training nor retained in any memory.
—
Erik German,
Fortune,
11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunge
Verb
-
By the time the boundary issues were partially corrected in the 1960s, both the cemetery and the surrounding Black community had been largely erased from public memory.
-
Still, state environmental officials and weather experts say the rainfall deficits dating back to last fall have not been completely erased.
Verb
-
In 1980, smallpox became the first human disease ever eradicated worldwide.
-
The rare partnership is giving the tribe an opportunity to introduce its language, history, culture that the federal government once tried to eradicate to soccer fans around the world.
Verb
-
The other reconstruction amendments abolished slavery and expanded voting rights.
-
Trump and his supporters have repeatedly pushed Senate leaders to abolish the filibuster to pass the election bill, but there's also insufficient support to drastically change the chamber's procedures.
Verb
-
The most common type of dementia, which destroys memory and cognitive function, was responsible for 116,022 deaths in 2024, NCHS data shows.
-
That book is a revenge fantasy about the former art school professor who seduced her, discarded her and destroyed her confidence as a painter.
Cite this Entry
“Expunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunge. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
