effaced
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for effaced, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — Past tense and past participle of efface: to rub out, erase or wear away a mark, inscription or image so that it can no longer be seen.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
Past tense and past participle of efface: to rub out, erase or wear away a mark, inscription or image so that it can no longer be seen.
“Centuries of rain had effaced the inscription on the stone.”
2. verb
In the phrase 'effaced oneself': behaved modestly and avoided drawing attention to oneself.
“He effaced himself entirely, letting the younger staff take the credit.”
How to Use Effaced
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Literary in general use, routine in obstetric notes.
Etymology
From French 'effacer', to erase, from 'es-' (out) plus 'face', literally to remove the face or surface of something.
Full origin of effaced →Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 80 per cent effaced?
It means the cervix has thinned to about a fifth of its usual length as labour approaches. Effacement is measured separately from dilation, which is how far the cervix has opened, and the two usually progress together.
What is the difference between effaced and erased?
'Erased' is the everyday word for removing writing or data. 'Effaced' is more literary and suggests gradual wearing away or deliberate blotting out of something's identity, as when a name is effaced from history.