eradicate

Language: en

🇺🇸 /ɪˈrædəˌkeɪt/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To completely destroy or eliminate something, especially something harmful or undesirable, so that it no longer exists.; To pull up or tear out by the roots; to uproot.; To completely remove or obliterate all traces of something, such as a disease, memory, or idea.

🔗 Details

Word forms

3rd sing.: eradicates Past: eradicated Past part.: eradicated Pres part.: eradicating

Collocations

eradicate diseaseeradicate povertyeradicate corruptioneradicate a problemeradicate weedseradicate illiteracy

Derivatives

eradicationeradicatoreradicableeradicative

Synonyms

eliminateexterminateannihilateobliterateextirpatewipe outdestroy

Antonyms

createestablishpreserveprotect

Commonly confused

extirpate
EN: 'Extirpate' is more literary and often refers to pulling up by the roots (plants, ideas); 'eradicate' is more commonly used in general contexts like disease or social problems.
eliminate
EN: 'Eliminate' is less forceful and can simply mean to remove or exclude; 'eradicate' implies complete and permanent destruction.

Spelling tips

EN: Remember it derives from Latin 'eradicare' (to pull up by the roots, from 'radix' = root). Do not confuse with the rare word 'irradicate,' which means to implant firmly—the opposite sense.

💬 Examples

  1. The government launched a campaign to eradicate poverty in rural areas.

  2. The gardener worked to eradicate the invasive weeds from the flower bed.

  3. Smallpox was the first disease to be eradicated through a global vaccination effort.