eradicate

/ɪˈɹæd.ɪ.keɪt/

Group 21Difficulty 1/3

Definition

(verb)
To destroy completely; to put an end to
GRE

Example in Context

The global campaign to eradicate the disease succeeded in reducing cases by ninety-nine percent within a single decade.

Synonyms

wipe outdestroyeliminate

Etymology

To pull something out by its roots.

  • e- (Latin) — out of
  • radic- (Latin) — root

Memory Aid

🍽️Sounds like “eradicate sounds like 'eradicating' food

If you ERADICATE all the food from your fridge, you’ll be so hungry you’ll think it’s a DIET!

Visual Association

💥A giant weed being uprooted and blown to pieces in a dramatic explosion, symbolizing complete destruction.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “eradicate” mean on the GRE?

eradicate (verb) means “To destroy completely; to put an end to”. The global campaign to eradicate the disease succeeded in reducing cases by ninety-nine percent within a single decade.

How to remember “eradicate” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “eradicate” sounds like “eradicate sounds like 'eradicating' food”. If you ERADICATE all the food from your fridge, you’ll be so hungry you’ll think it’s a DIET!

What are synonyms for “eradicate”?

Common synonyms: wipe out, destroy, eliminate.