Definition of uprootnext
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 Producers of cognac are cutting staff and uprooting vines as sales go down the drain. Suzanne Lynch, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026 While the facility includes features for children – such as a gym, a library, and classrooms – attorneys and advocates have reported poor conditions and concerns over children getting uprooted from their daily routines and held in a detention center to no fault of their own. Holly Yan, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 The six-part thriller follows John (Lincoln) who uproots his family and moves from London to the small Scottish village of Coldwater, following a violent incident at a playground. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026 Tanenbaum shouldn’t have to uproot his family to be a justice. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uproot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for uproot
Verb
  • But looming is the question of whether the federal immigration officers who pulled the triggers in both cases actually broke the law, a question that will come down to complicated issues that are much harder to define than the outrage that prompted calls for accountability.
    Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Morato also failed to connect with a golden opportunity to pull a goal back, shortly before Lorenzo Lucca finally did.
    Paul Taylor, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Texas coach Vic Schaefer has also yanked post players Justice Carlton and Ashton Judd after on-court errors in the first half, and the Longhorns entered this timeout with four guards and Oldacre on the court.
    Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Mitchell’s companion yanked a necklace off Reed’s neck before both suspects fled the area, authorities said.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • At the slime making station, guests will have the option to add scents extracted from real flowers.
    Tanasia Kenney, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Microbes could be the future space miners, helping humans survive on long-term missions by extracting mineral resources from extraterrestrial rocks.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 12 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Over at Azur on Luminara, the menu reinvents itself every two days to mirror the port of call, like someone plucked the best taverna dishes off the coast and casually plated them in front of you.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This is ideal for decades of sliding across the ice, because bigger mineral grains are more likely to get plucked out by the ice, leaving holes in the surface that could cause unpredictable behavior.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 10 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Uproot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uproot. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on uproot

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