riddance

/ˈrɪdns/

/ˈrɪdɪns/

Other forms: riddances

Riddance is the act of getting rid of something. People say "Good riddance!" when they're happy someone or something is gone.

When you're rid of something, it's gone. You're rid of a cold when it's over. Similarly, riddance is the action of getting rid of something. The police are dedicated to the riddance of crime. Librarians want riddance of noise so people can read. If you have bugs where you live, you're going to be interested in their riddance: they will have to be exterminated. Good riddance!

Definitions of riddance

1. noun

   the act of removing or getting rid of something
   synonyms: elimination

   types:

   simplification

   elimination of superfluous details

   oversimplification, simplism

   an act of excessive simplification; the act of making something seem simpler than it really is

   rationalisation, rationalization

   (mathematics) the simplification of an expression or equation by eliminating radicals without changing the value of the expression or the roots of the equation

   type of:

   remotion, removal

   the act of removing
2. noun

   the act of forcing out someone or something
   synonyms: ejection, exclusion, expulsion

   types:

   defenestration

   the act of throwing someone or something out of a window

   deportation

   the expulsion of a non-citizen from a country

   ostracism

   the act of excluding someone from society by general consent

   barring, blackball

   the act of excluding someone by a negative vote or veto

   ouster, ousting

   the act of ejecting someone or forcing them out

   deposition, dethronement

   the act of deposing someone; removing a powerful person from a position or office

   type of:

   banishment, proscription

   rejection by means of an act of banishing or proscribing someone