obliterative
adjective
oblit·er·a·tive
ə-ˈbli-tə-ˌrā-tiv 
ō-,
-rə-tiv
: inducing or characterized by obliteration: such as
a
: causing or accompanied by closure or collapse of a lumen
obliterative arterial disease
b
: tending to make inconspicuous
obliterative behavior
Examples of obliterative in a Sentence
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So engineers at Pennsylvania State University came up with an engine that combines the positive attributes of fission and fusion with the obliterative energy available in antimatter collisions.
—
Meghan Herbst, Wired, 17 June 2021
That’s all that was needed; deaf culture went on the chopping block the minute an obliterative procedure was developed.
—New York Times, 6 Apr. 2021
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Meghan Herbst, Wired, 17 June 2021
That’s all that was needed; deaf culture went on the chopping block the minute an obliterative procedure was developed.
—New York Times, 6 Apr. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Obliterative.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obliterative. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
obliterative
adjective
oblit·er·a·tive
ə-ˈblit-ə-ˌrāt-iv
ō-
ō-
-ə-rət-
: inducing or characterized by obliteration
especially
: causing or accompanied by closure or collapse of a lumen
obliterative arterial disease
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