as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort uprooted the old bridge's pilings upon the completion of its replacement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb uproot differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of uproot are eradicate, exterminate, and extirpate. While all these words mean "to effect the destruction or abolition of something," uproot implies a forcible or violent removal and stresses displacement or dislodgment rather than immediate destruction.

the war uprooted thousands

In what contexts can eradicate take the place of uproot?

While in some cases nearly identical to uproot, eradicate implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself.

a campaign to eradicate illiteracy

When is it sensible to use exterminate instead of uproot?

The words exterminate and uproot can be used in similar contexts, but exterminate implies complete and immediate extinction by killing off all individuals.

exterminate cockroaches

When would extirpate be a good substitute for uproot?

The synonyms extirpate and uproot are sometimes interchangeable, but extirpate implies extinction of a race, family, species, or sometimes an idea or doctrine by destruction or removal of its means of propagation.

many species have been extirpated from the area

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 uproot That change is something William Ritter has noticed too, since floodwaters uprooted his gardens and apple trees. Lila Hempel-Edgers, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2025 Civil unrest and armed conflict in Sudan have displaced millions internally, uprooting families from their communities. Trickleup, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Last December, Deadline reported that Dutton Ranch will likely welcome some familiar faces from the Yellowstone universe, which makes sense since the show isn't uprooting its characters and will directly follow the events of its predecessor. EW.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Powerful gusts ripped through properties, uprooted trees from the ground and knocked down lampposts, according to state media. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uproot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uproot
Verb
  • The group routinely calls for removing books at public schools and played a role in Scottsdale Unified School District's decision to pull 16 books from its library shelves in February.
    Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • The air fryer itself is easy to clean by pulling the trays out and wiping the inside with a wet cloth.
    Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In fact, Labyrinth was yanked from some theaters less than a month after its release.
    Logan Karlie September 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
  • After deciding to take his family to a tourist town for some fun in the sun, a minor encounter with local bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of an unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss (Sharon Stone), who is determined to derail his relaxation.
    Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The last time Congress faced a deadline to extend government funding, Senate Democrats flinched, giving Republicans the votes needed to avert a government shutdown without extracting any concessions.
    Nik Popli, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Abboud and his mother, whose name is Najlaa, were safely extracted from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, though the location has not been disclosed in this reporting for their protection.
    Caitlin McFall, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • There may be even greater reasons to put an ad that plucks the heartstrings in front of a broader crowd.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Through the BirdReturns farmlands program, late-summer fields are filled with a shallow 2- to 4-inch depth, allowing shorebirds to pluck bugs from the mud beneath the water.
    Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uproot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uproot. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on uproot

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