EXPUNGE Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

expunge

verb

ik-ˈspənj

Definition of expunge

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 However, there have been many more attempts to distort and expunge Black history. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 June 2026 Forty-five people were expunged with their criminal records because of the Soul Kitchen. — Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 18 June 2026 The irony, of course, is Arnold has done his best to expunge his own personal history. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 How ‘Clean Slate’ laws work States have a legal process in which people can petition the courts to seal or expunge old arrests or convictions, depending on the seriousness of the offense and after a certain period of time. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for expunge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunge

Verb

Ungrounding, on the other hand, aims to remove a society from its place and erase all traces to its previous existence.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Photographs capture her outline in the mud of a creek bank; in the snow blown against a tree trunk; in an arrangement of branches and flowers leaned against a tree; and in the sand on a beach, already being erased by the waves.

— Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026

Definition of erase

Verb

Lisa Walker-Yeager Lisa Walker-Yeager is running a campaign focused on abolishing or significantly reducing the property tax burden that residents, particularly senior citizens, have at a time when most goods and services are more expensive.

— Sofi Zeman July 16, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
Polling found that support for abolishing ICE surged even among Republicans after the killing of the 37-year-old ICU nurse.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Definition of abolish

Verb

But there have been no exact numbers of how many missiles and drones Iran had when the war began or how many have since been used or destroyed.

— Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Severe droughts and searing heat across vast swathes of southern Europe destroyed large parts of the olive oil harvest, culminating in a dizzying price rally that shocked industry veterans and consumers alike.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of destroy

Browse Nearby Words

expulsions

expunge

expunged

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Expunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunge. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of expunge

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on expunge

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

accentuate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes