eliminate

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "eliminate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate the complete removal of something. For example: "The company's new policies eliminated the need for overtime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He would simply give every family a tax exemption of $100,000, which would eliminate the income tax for 90 percent of those now filing returns.

The New York Times

However, the Nobel committee's citation said the prize was a more general one, to mark "its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons" and nudge the few remaining nations that had not yet signed up to the organisation.

The Guardian

Upgrades such as installing a warning light system mean more expense, management and do not eliminate risk.

The Guardian

In other words: we do not, as yet, have an adequate response mechanism, an ability to eliminate the threat of terrorism the way decisive steps undertaken by the British SAS, the German GSG-9 and other units succeeded in reducing the number of cases involving hijacked aircraft to almost nil.

The Guardian - Opinion

First, he restated his determination to stick to his plan to eliminate the structural deficit by 2014/15.

The Guardian - Opinion

The institute's director, Paul Johnson, said reductions under Labour would be "quite a lot less" but could involve big cuts in the first couple of years after the election and would leave the country with a deficit of up to £30bn – while the Tories would eliminate it altogether.

The Guardian

It must also strive to eliminate the cause of disadvantage and promote greater prosperity for all.

The Guardian

In any case, here's an interesting tidbit from the Canadian Press: '"We don't want to eliminate the chase," said Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon.

The Guardian - Sport

Toward the end of the interview, Peterson said he would reconsider using switches in the future, but said he would never "eliminate whooping my kids … because I know how being spanked has helped me in my life".

The Guardian - Sport

It has proved impossible to eliminate by normal means palm and fingerprints found in the flat.

The Guardian

"While the Chinese government is starting to eliminate some of the most destructive fishing practices in its own waters, the loopholes in existing policies lead to a double standard in Africa," Ahmed Diame, a Greenpeace Africa ocean campaigner, said in a statement.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "eliminate" when you want to convey the complete removal or eradication of something. For instance, "The new software will eliminate many repetitive tasks".

Common error

While "eliminate" is versatile, avoid using it in extremely casual conversation where simpler alternatives like "get rid of" or "remove" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The word "eliminate" functions primarily as a transitive verb, requiring a direct object. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples show it acting upon various nouns, such as "threat", "risk", "deficit", showcasing its ability to take concrete and abstract objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "eliminate" is a versatile verb used to express the complete removal of something. According to Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and appears "Very common" in News & Media contexts. When using this verb, consider its formality and choose synonyms judiciously for diverse writing scenarios. Remember, it’s mostly used in News and Media based on the reference examples provided by Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remove

A general term for taking something away.

get rid of

A more informal way to express removing something.

eradicate

Implies a complete and permanent removal, often used for problems or diseases.

do away with

An idiomatic expression for getting rid of something, often something unwanted or unnecessary.

abolish

Specifically refers to the formal ending of a system, practice, or institution.

wipe out

Implies a sudden and often devastating removal or destruction.

obliterate

Suggests complete destruction, leaving no trace.

stamp out

Suggests forceful suppression or elimination of something undesirable.

annihilate

Similar to obliterate, but often implies a more violent or destructive process.

exterminate

Usually refers to the killing of pests or unwanted creatures.

FAQs

How can I use "eliminate" in a sentence?

You can use "eliminate" to indicate the removal of something, as in "The new measures will "eliminate waste"" or "We need to "eliminate errors" in the system".

What are some alternatives to "eliminate"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "remove", "eradicate", "get rid of", or "abolish".

Is it always appropriate to use "eliminate" in formal writing?

While "eliminate" is generally suitable for formal writing, consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Alternatives like "remove" or "eradicate" might be more precise depending on the context.

What's the difference between "eliminate" and "reduce"?

"Eliminate" means to completely remove something, while "reduce" means to decrease its amount or intensity. For example, you might ""eliminate waste"" entirely, but only "reduce emissions".