eradicate
verb
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The Root of Eradicate Is, Literally, Root
Given that eradicate first meant "to pull up by the roots," it's not surprising that the root of eradicate means, in fact, "root." Eradicate, which first turned up in English in the 16th century, comes from eradicatus, the past participle of the Latin verb eradicare. Eradicare, in turn, can be traced back to the Latin word radix, meaning "root" or "radish." Although eradicate began life as a word for literal uprooting, by the mid-17th century it had developed a metaphorical application to removing things the way one might yank an undesirable weed up by the roots. Other descendants of radix in English include radical and radish. Even the word root itself is related; it comes from the same ancient word that gave Latin radix.
Examples of eradicate in a Sentence
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
But Ukraine says Russia is waging an imperial war of conquest to eradicate Ukrainian sovereignty and identity, and illegally bring it under Kremlin control.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Sixth-generation Texas rancher James Clement III told CNBC the key to eradicating the screwworm threat is years out.
—Lori Ann Larocco, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
While major advancements have been made to make pneumonia a survivable illness, the infection is hard to eradicate because it can be caused by a number of different fungi, viruses and bacteria which can mutate into different strains.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for eradicate
Cite this Entry
“Eradicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eradicate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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