EN

Synonyms for delete

22 synonyms
8 antonyms
2 meanings

verb

Most common

erase remove expunge eliminate edit blue-pencil

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

1. Erase — to remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device

erase, remove, expunge, eliminate, obliterate, terminate, strike out, scratch, rub out, clear, eradicate, dele, strike, efface, blot out, blot

2. Edit

edit, blue-pencil

Other

cancel, exclude, omit, cross out

Antonyms

insert, maintain, restore

All antonyms of delete →

Definitions

v. 1
To remove, get rid of or erase, especially written or printed material, or data on a computer or other device.
v. 2
To defeat or dominate.

Related words

Word family: deletable deletion delible
Phrases: speedy delete

Forms

Past participle: deleted
e.g. deleted → erased, removed, expunged, eliminated…

Example sentences

remove Please remove that chair because it is in the way.
erase He used a piece of paper to erase the whiteboard.
obliterate It's time to obliterate those walls of yours!
cancel Circumstances forced us to cancel our appointment.
exclude Fill the bottle to the top so as to exclude all air.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
delete		rising
remove		steady
erase		rising
obliterate		steady
expunge		steady
cancel		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters: edit², omit², blot¹, dele
5 letters: clear¹, erase²
6 letters: remove², strike¹, cancel², efface²
7 letters: scratch¹, exclude², expunge²
9 letters: eliminate⁴, terminate³, eradicate⁴
10 letters: obliterate⁴

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (edit² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: supprimer
Italiano: sopprimere