expunging

verb

present participle of expunge
as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of time and the weather have expunged any evidence that a thriving community once existed here

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 expunging The miniseries is only three hours long, so Wallace had to heavily truncate King’s gargantuan tome, curtailing and expunging scenes and entire characters, as well as toning things down to fit broadcast rules. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026 Still, very much despite herself, Cusk has not succeeded in expunging character from her work. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 With Ukraine busy expunging Russian cultural influences, and cities and towns removing Russian historical and literary figures’ statues and street names, the idea of a new program focused on Ukraine’s former imperial master raised eyebrows. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2026 In addition to activities, teens will have access to resources such as job training, housing information, and support with expunging criminal records. — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 12 May 2026 Many states have already taken steps such as expunging criminal records. — Gene Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026 In recent years, clean slate laws have dominated criminal justice reform, focusing on sealing or expunging eligible records. — Alonzo Martinez, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for expunging
  1. eradicating
  2. erasing
  3. abolishing
  4. destroying
Verb
  • But somehow, in the midst of all this frat-boy revelry, Ilya is able to outline his vision for the future, one in which AI will have solved numerous human problems, including eradicating not only cancer but also loneliness and unhappiness.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This park is the result of the Tompkins’ passion for this part of the world and their desire to rewild this part of Chile that had been overfarmed and overgrazed to the point of almost eradicating its native flora and fauna.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of eradicating
Verb
  • Wallace was flagged for pass interference against Denver, erasing an interception.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The Kospi, heavily weighted in chipmaker titans Samsung and SK Hynix, closed at a six-month low, erasing all of its gains since April.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of erasing
Verb
  • Yet abolishing Greek life altogether is far from an easy proposition.
    — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The administration initially talked about abolishing the agency, arguing that states and communities could deal with disasters on their own.
    — Dana R. Fisher, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of abolishing
Verb
  • Hurricane Isaias made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane on Saturday, spawning tornadoes, destroying buildings and downing power lines across the Gulf region.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Israeli soldiers filmed themselves in high definition laughing, looting homes, destroying entire rows of buildings, humiliating civilians, even killing them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroying

Browse Nearby Words

expunges
expunging
expurgate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Expunging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/expunging. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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