as in to erase
to destroy all traces of
time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of expunge
Judge Mary Anna Planey denied the motions from former officer Pierre Tyler to expunge and seal records in the December 2021 death of Andris Wofford, with whom Tyler shared a child.
—
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Two months later, Hartsuch initiated the first of his two lawsuits against the two state licensing boards, asking a judge to order the Board of Medicine to expunge its warning letter.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 28 Feb. 2026
One person's success Eliana, a program participant, said the most rewarding part was staying sober and having her felonies expunged.
—Claire Osborn, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Actor Macaulay Culkin has requested that the state of Oklahoma expunge his arrest record stemming from an arrest 22 years ago.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Two months later, Hartsuch initiated the first of his two lawsuits against the two state licensing boards, asking a judge to order the Board of Medicine to expunge its warning letter.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 28 Feb. 2026
One person's success Eliana, a program participant, said the most rewarding part was staying sober and having her felonies expunged.
—Claire Osborn, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
Actor Macaulay Culkin has requested that the state of Oklahoma expunge his arrest record stemming from an arrest 22 years ago.
—Dale Denwalt, Oklahoman, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunge
Verb
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The Indians erased an early 3-0 deficit with 3 runs in the second and 4 in the fourth.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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Then there is that silence motivated by the desire to protect one’s self through trying to erase the thing never discussed.—
Cyraina Johnson-Roullier,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In Namibia, local authorities were producing millions of tons of wood chips while eradicating an invasive bush.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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Instead of eradicating catcher framing like full abdication to the robots would have, the challenge system adds new layers to the charade of trying to sell strikes.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the four and a half decades since France abolished the death penalty, the guillotine itself has rarely been seen.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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If holistic admissions were abolished (and admissions were based solely on grades, curricular rigor and test scores), the percentage of students with parents in the top 1% of income would drop by more than a third.—
David Blobaum,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunge. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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