Eradicate: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the complete removal or destruction of something, often in contexts like diseases, social issues, or pests.

• Efforts are being made to eradicate malaria in this region.
• We aim to eradicate poverty in our community.

Commonly used to describe the process of removing or getting rid of something, especially problems, obstacles, or unwanted elements. It’s less intense than 'annihilate' or 'exterminate'.

• We need to eliminate all errors before launching the software.
• The competitor was eliminated from the race.

Often used in the context of killing off unwanted pests or a population of creatures. It implies a thorough and often ruthless removal.

• The company was hired to exterminate the rats in the building.
• Historical records show how entire villages were exterminated.

Used when talking about completely destroying something so that nothing remains, often associated with war, extreme destruction, or competitive contexts. The word has a strong, often negative connotation.

• The bomb could annihilate the entire city.
• They were annihilated in the final match.