as in erased
to destroy all traces of
time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here
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Recent Examples of expunged
There is a process for requesting to have your DNA expunged from CODIS, according to the FBI, but Glaberson, coauthor of the report, said very few people appear to have successfully done so, meaning their DNA will likely remain there in perpetuity.
—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
In September, roughly a month after Kansas City received the federal subpoena for records related to Washington, the nonprofit leader filed petitions in both state and federal courts to have his criminal records expunged.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 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
Unusual efforts to clear records A felony charge against a CPD officer — even one stemming from an off-duty incident — is relatively uncommon, and recent efforts by other former officers to have their criminal charges expunged have led to mixed results.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
According to Jefferson County Circuit Court records, Soto-Pantoja is part of a pretrial diversion program that allows for a criminal case to be expunged after five years of law-abiding behavior, including paying fees and passing drug tests, Mascagni said.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2021, Colvin successfully petitioned to have her juvenile arrest record expunged.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 24 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
Eventually the convictions were reduced to misdemeanors and expunged.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 24 Mar. 2026
In September, roughly a month after Kansas City received the federal subpoena for records related to Washington, the nonprofit leader filed petitions in both state and federal courts to have his criminal records expunged.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 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
Unusual efforts to clear records A felony charge against a CPD officer — even one stemming from an off-duty incident — is relatively uncommon, and recent efforts by other former officers to have their criminal charges expunged have led to mixed results.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
According to Jefferson County Circuit Court records, Soto-Pantoja is part of a pretrial diversion program that allows for a criminal case to be expunged after five years of law-abiding behavior, including paying fees and passing drug tests, Mascagni said.
—Lillian Metzmeier, Louisville Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2026
In 2021, Colvin successfully petitioned to have her juvenile arrest record expunged.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 24 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
Eventually the convictions were reduced to misdemeanors and expunged.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunged
Verb
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But while Maduro's ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
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While Maduro’s ruling party remains in power, he has slowly been erased from the government of Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Although the Borrelia burgdorferi infection is typically eradicated by quick treatment, some individuals have persistent symptoms, which are referred to as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome, according to the CDC.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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Measles, once eradicated, has grown to 1,300 cases since an outbreak last year.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Another 6,300 Oakland County residents will have more than $6 million in medical debt abolished thanks to the county's partnership with a national nonprofit and dedicated federal funds.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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However, last year the current presidential administration intentionally abolished this protection as a calculated tactic to advance their anti-immigrant agenda.—
Dr. Lauren Palladino,
Hartford Courant,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Reviewing the Pentagon’s video, Miguel said the footage showed buildings on his property being destroyed.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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Even factory resets may leave traces of data, so some recyclers will go as far as shredding a device's hard drive — and verify it's been destroyed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Expunged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunged. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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