eradicate Hear it!

eradicate Definition

eradi·cate (ē radi kāt′, i-)

transitive verb -·cat′ed, -·cat′·ing

  1. to tear out by the roots; uproot
  2. to get rid of; wipe out; destroy

Etymology: ME eradicaten < L eradicatus, pp. of eradicare, to root out < e-, out + radix (gen. radicis), root

eradicate Related Forms
eradi·cable (-kə bəl) adjective erad′i·ca·tion noun eradi·ca′·tive adjective eradi·ca′·tor noun
eradicate Synonyms

eradicate

v.

extirpate, exterminate, annihilate; see abolish, destroy 1. See syn. study at exterminate.

eradicate Usage Examples

Subject

  • action: It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

Object

  • defilement: If we really want to eradicate defilements we should know that all kinds of kusala should be developed.
  • polio: We remain on course too to eradicate polio from the face of the globe by 2005.
  • poverty: The strategy aims to eradicate fuel poverty in the UK in 10 to 15 years.
  • illiteracy: There is a mass campaign aiming to mobilize 100,000 teachers with the aim of eradicating illiteracy.
  • pest: The premises were immediately closed so the owner could clean up and eradicate the pests.
  • smallpox: Not until 6 years ago was smallpox eradicated from the world.

Preposition: at

  • stage: It ensures that mistakes are eradicated at the earliest stage possible.

Noun phrase with adjective complement

  • such: To encourage participation by highlighting and eradicating any obstacles such as fear of reprimand real or imagined.

Modifying Another Word

  • virtually: Youth unemployment has been virtually eradicated in many areas.
  • completely: Indeed there are many who argue that they should be completely eradicated from the wild.
  • altogether: Or, most unlikely of all, will they be eradicated altogether?
  • totally: The only dreaded disease to have been totally eradicated is smallpox, which was wiped out more than two decades ago.
  • but: Hooliganism has been all but eradicated, and in my opinion the average football fan is far more tolerant and civilized than before.
  • entirely: There now seems a real prospect that, like smallpox, polio may be eradicated entirely from the world.

Used with why or when

  • what: Remember that students cannot eradicate what might be the bad habits of a lifetime with just one set of your guidance notes.

Present participle complement

  • bully: Organizations can underline their commitment to eradicating bullying and harassment in the workplace by having a dedicated policy.

Preposition: in

  • country: Malaria, which kills about the same numbers as AIDS in sub Saharan Africa, has been more or less eradicated in richer countries.

Preposition: from

  • country: Replying to a query, the minister said that the PPI drive would continue till the disease was totally eradicated from the country.

Preposition: by

  • action: It is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings.

Browse dictionary entries near eradicate

  1. eradiate
  2. era
  3. -er
  4. Er Rif
  5. er
  6. Equuleus
  7. equivoque
  8. equivocation
  9. equivocate
  10. equivocal
  1. eradication
  2. erase
  3. eraser
  4. erasion
  5. Erasmus
  6. Erastian
  7. Erastus
  8. erasure
  9. Erato
  10. Eratosthenes