uprooting; pulling up by the roots
Literal or figurative removal of something from its foundation, like pulling a plant out with its roots intact.
台風で大木が根こそぎ倒れた。
The typhoon uprooted the large tree.
Pull out the weeds, roots and all.
Used in the pattern 〜にする to mean completely eliminating something undesirable, such as corruption or pests.
汚職を根こそぎにする必要がある。
We need to root out corruption completely.
この薬でゴキブリを根こそぎにできる。
This medicine can eradicate cockroaches entirely.
completely; entirely; thoroughly
Adverbial use meaning 'all of it' or 'without leaving anything behind', often with negative outcomes like theft or destruction.
泥棒に家の中のものを根こそぎ盗まれた。
The burglar stole everything from the house.
火事で資料が根こそぎ焼けてしまった。
The fire burned all the documents completely.
The tree in the garden was uprooted entirely by the strong wind.
The police aim to completely eradicate organized crime.
The burglar stole absolutely everything from the house.