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
In recent years, clean slate laws have dominated criminal justice reform, focusing on sealing or expunging eligible records.
—
Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But how many of them — like our old friend the Snake Oil Salesman — willingly gave all of that up for the chance to expunge their lifetimes of trauma?
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2021, an Alabama family court judge granted Colvin's petition to expunge her record.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Rinehart said that any charges related to those and other incidents may have been sealed or expunged.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But how many of them — like our old friend the Snake Oil Salesman — willingly gave all of that up for the chance to expunge their lifetimes of trauma?
—Jack King, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2026
In 2021, an Alabama family court judge granted Colvin's petition to expunge her record.
—Adam Carlson, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Rinehart said that any charges related to those and other incidents may have been sealed or expunged.
—Kevin Grasha, Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expunge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunge
Verb
-
In Josh Safdie’s feverish ping-pong epic, Marty (Timothée Chalamet) breaks from his benefactor, pen tycoon Milton Rockwell (Kevin O’Leary), risking everything to erase an old defeat.—
Daron James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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There are still many in this country who value truth, who believe that history should be preserved and not erased, who understand that constitutional rights should not be swept away to suit the whims of a megalomaniac, and who refuse to wallow in ignorance and hate.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
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Because of these and other factors, the program to eradicate coca farming in Colombia failed, and production exploded.—
Greg Rosalsky,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hindley, Catherine’s elder brother, is abolished entirely — his vices reassigned to the father.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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Nexstar is seeking a waiver from the FCC from the 39% cap, while the agency is considering whether to raise that threshold or abolish it altogether.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Shipwreck hunters have been searching the lakes with more urgency in recent years out of concerns that invasive quagga mussels are slowly destroying wrecks.—
Todd Richmond,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
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However, archaeologists faced a significant challenge—how to penetrate its secrets without destroying it in the process?—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunge. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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