eradicate

[ ih-rad-i-keyt ]
See synonyms for: eradicateeradicatederadicatingeradication on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),e·rad·i·cat·ed, e·rad·i·cat·ing.
  1. to remove or destroy utterly; extirpate: to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.

  2. to erase by rubbing or by means of a chemical solvent: to eradicate a spot.

  1. to pull up by the roots: to eradicate weeds.

Origin of eradicate

1
First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin ērādīcātus “rooted out” (past participle of ērādīcāre ), equivalent to ē- e-1 + rādīc- (stem of rādīx ) root1 + -ātus -ate1

synonym study For eradicate

1. See abolish.

Other words for eradicate

Other words from eradicate

  • e·rad·i·cant [ih-rad-i-kuhnt], /ɪˈræd ɪ kənt/, adjective, noun
  • e·rad·i·ca·tion [ih-rad-i-key-shuhn], /ɪˌræd ɪˈkeɪ ʃən/, noun
  • e·rad·i·ca·tive, adjective
  • e·rad·i·ca·tor, noun
  • non·e·rad·i·ca·tive, adjective
  • un·e·rad·i·cat·ed, adjective
  • un·e·rad·i·ca·tive, adjective

Words Nearby eradicate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use eradicate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for eradicate

eradicate

/ (ɪˈrædɪˌkeɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to obliterate; stamp out

  2. to pull or tear up by the roots

Origin of eradicate

1
C16: from Latin ērādīcāre to uproot, from ex- 1 + rādīx root

Derived forms of eradicate

  • eradicable, adjective
  • eradicably, adverb
  • eradication, noun
  • eradicative, adjective
  • eradicator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012