Expunge
verb
To erase or remove completely something unwanted or unpleasant.
He tried to expunge all memories of that terrible experience from his mind.
Often appears as...
- expunge from the record
- expunge the thought
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To delete or remove an entry from official records or lists.
His conviction was expunged from the records.
Often appears as...
- expunge a conviction
- expunge from the register
Usage tips
Formal, Neutral
verb
To erase or remove completely something unwanted or unpleasant.
He tried to expunge all memories of that terrible experience from his mind.
Often appears as...
- expunge from the record
- expunge the thought
Usage tips
Formal
verb
To delete or remove an entry from official records or lists.
His conviction was expunged from the records.
Often appears as...
- expunge a conviction
- expunge from the register
Usage tips
Formal, Neutral
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Complete Removal
When you expunge something, it's as if it never existed.
The author decided to expunge the entire paragraph that didn't fit the narrative.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
'Expunge' is usually used for removing things that are harmful or embarrassing.
She sought to expunge the scandalous rumor from the small community.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It's often used metaphorically to describe the act of forgetting or disregarding something.
After the argument, he tried to expunge the hurtful words from his memory.
Pro Tip 1/3Complete Removal
When you expunge something, it's as if it never existed.
The author decided to expunge the entire paragraph that didn't fit the narrative.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
'Expunge' is usually used for removing things that are harmful or embarrassing.
She sought to expunge the scandalous rumor from the small community.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It's often used metaphorically to describe the act of forgetting or disregarding something.
After the argument, he tried to expunge the hurtful words from his memory.
Pro Tip 1/3Complete Removal
When you expunge something, it's as if it never existed.
The author decided to expunge the entire paragraph that didn't fit the narrative.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
'Expunge' is usually used for removing things that are harmful or embarrassing.
She sought to expunge the scandalous rumor from the small community.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It's often used metaphorically to describe the act of forgetting or disregarding something.
After the argument, he tried to expunge the hurtful words from his memory.
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Video examples
David Brooks: The social...
but we've had disappointing results year after year. And the fact is, people learn from people they love. And if you're not talking about the individual relationship between a teacher and a student, you're not talking about that reality. But that reality is expunged
Video examples
Social animal - David...
expunged from our policymaking process and so that's led to a question for me why are the most socially attuned people on earth completely dehumanized when they think about policy and I came to the conclusion this is a symptom of a
Video examples
David Brooks: The social...
but we've had disappointing results year after year. And the fact is, people learn from people they love. And if you're not talking about the individual relationship between a teacher and a student, you're not talking about that reality. But that reality is expunged
Video examples
Social animal - David...
expunged from our policymaking process and so that's led to a question for me why are the most socially attuned people on earth completely dehumanized when they think about policy and I came to the conclusion this is a symptom of a
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Marcel Proust
French Author
There is no man, however wise, who has not at some period of his youth said things, or lived in a way the consciousness of which is so unpleasant to him in later life that he would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory.
Quote examples
Albert Bandura
Canadian Psychologist
In the final forms of moral disengagement, wrongdoers treat adversaries as subhuman animalistic, demonic beings. Expunging any sense of shared humanity eliminates moral restraints.
Quote examples
Pat Robertson
American Clergyman
The problem we have in America is the systematic erosion of our religious values in an attempt by certain liberal groups to expunge our Christian heritage from the public square.
Quote examples
Moshe Kasher
American Comedian
I think people are really desperate for conversations. I'm really fascinated by the idea that at the same time, the internet is sort of expunging our attention spans.
Quote examples
William Peter Blatty
American Writer
And the sad truth is that nobody wants me to write comedy. The Exorcist not only ended that career, it expunged all memory of its existence.
Quote examples
A. Bartlett Giamatti
American Educator
I'm not going to sit here now and say 'do this,' or 'do that.' But you must - must - expunge any vestige of racism.
Quote examples
Helen Dunmore
British Poet
To try to expunge an individual's history is a terrible violation.
Quote examples
Marcel Proust
French Author
There is no man, however wise, who has not at some period of his youth said things, or lived in a way the consciousness of which is so unpleasant to him in later life that he would gladly, if he could, expunge it from his memory.
Quote examples
Albert Bandura
Canadian Psychologist
In the final forms of moral disengagement, wrongdoers treat adversaries as subhuman animalistic, demonic beings. Expunging any sense of shared humanity eliminates moral restraints.
Quote examples
Pat Robertson
American Clergyman
The problem we have in America is the systematic erosion of our religious values in an attempt by certain liberal groups to expunge our Christian heritage from the public square.
Quote examples
Moshe Kasher
American Comedian
I think people are really desperate for conversations. I'm really fascinated by the idea that at the same time, the internet is sort of expunging our attention spans.
Quote examples
William Peter Blatty
American Writer
And the sad truth is that nobody wants me to write comedy. The Exorcist not only ended that career, it expunged all memory of its existence.
Quote examples
A. Bartlett Giamatti
American Educator
I'm not going to sit here now and say 'do this,' or 'do that.' But you must - must - expunge any vestige of racism.
Quote examples
Helen Dunmore
British Poet
To try to expunge an individual's history is a terrible violation.
Example 1 of 7
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