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 Last year, Weiss uprooted from Los Angeles with her wife, New York Times alum Nellie Bowles, and their kids to New York. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 This summer, however, Hamilton County's first place spot got uprooted by a Cherrybark Oak in Vanderburgh County. John Tufts, IndyStar, 3 Oct. 2025 As with the enclosures in England and Scotland, villagers were uprooted and dispossessed to make way for sheep and cattle. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 30 Sep. 2025 One millennial marketing specialist, Lukas Yla, was having difficulty landing a Silicon Valley job after uprooting his life from Lithuania to San Francisco. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for uproot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uproot
Verb
  • The pair took their Clueless looks to the next level by posing in front of a white Jeep just like the one driven by Cher in the movie — with Kim pouting at the wheel as North pulled a shocked face.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Within seconds, several officers pull her toward the entrance of the facility as others move to hold back the crowd.
    Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • McDaniel even yanked Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers after his third pick.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine.
    Rory Doherty, Vulture, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The formula blends niacinamide, essential ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and Centella asiatica extract into a base of luxe shea butter to restore and strengthen the lips’ delicate skin.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Here’s How to Tell To extract that DNA, the researchers had to get samples from the paleofeces from the cave.
    Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Pieces from Stock are often plucked by stylists for celebrity editorials for Vanity Fair, Esquire and GQ.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
  • This faux Dunhill Fir is designed to look and feel like a tree plucked straight off the lot, without the single-season lifespan or mess of shedding needles.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Uproot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uproot. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on uproot

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