function clear_widget_areas( $areas = [] ) {
  $sidebars = get_option( 'sidebars_widgets', [] );

  foreach ( $areas as $area ) {
    if ( ! isset( $sidebars[ $area ] ) ) {
      continue;
    }
    if ( 'wp_inactive_widgets' === $area ) {
      continue;
    }
    $sidebars['wp_inactive_widgets'] = array_merge(
      $sidebars['wp_inactive_widgets'],
      $sidebars[ $area ]
    );
    unset( $sidebars[ $area ] );
  }

  update_option( 'sidebars_widgets', $sidebars );
}