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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
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 17 June 2026
The sound of water, which normally underlay everyday life, had been momentarily eradicated.
—Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Once established, the mollusks are extremely difficult to eradicate and can damage drinking water systems, irrigation infrastructure and hydroelectric facilities while disrupting native aquatic ecosystems.
—Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 16 June 2026
This neighborhood plan mimics ones used to eradicate the insects on islands.
—Maggie Penman, Washington Post, 14 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for eradicate
Cite this Entry
“Eradicate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eradicate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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