Synonyms for erase
Most common
All synonyms
Verb
1. Obliterate
obliterate, wipe out, efface, expunge, rub out, wipe off, destroy, eliminate, blot, eradicate, raze, scratch out, scratch, blot out, scrape, strike off, cancel, strike out, score out, subvert, dele, assassinate
Definitions
- v. 1
To remove (markings or information).
I erased that word from the page because it was wrong.
Forms
- Past participle
- erased
e.g. erased → obliterated, effaced, expunged, destroyed…
Choose the right word
Cancel, efface, erase, expunge, and obliterate have as their first meaning the removal of written characters or other forms of record.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- obliterate It's time to obliterate those walls of yours!
- efface I tried to efface the memory of her tears.
- delete Please tell me how to delete my Facebook account.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| erase | rising | |
| obliterate | steady | |
| expunge | steady | |
| efface | rising | |
| delete | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- blot1, raze1, dele
- 6 letters
- cancel2, delete2, scrape1, efface2
- 7 letters
- destroy2, scratch1, subvert2, expunge2
- 8 letters
- mindwipe
- 9 letters
- eliminate4, eradicate4
- 10 letters
- obliterate4
- 11 letters
- assassinate4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (cancel2 = 2 syllables).