To save this word, you'll need to log in.
wipe·out | \ ˈwīp-ˌau̇t 
\
\Definition of wipeout
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : the act or an instance of wiping out : complete or utter destruction
2 : a fall or crash caused usually by losing control
3 : a total or decisive defeat : drubbing
wipe out
verbwiped out; wiping out; wipes out
Definition of wipe out (Entry 2 of 2)
: to destroy completely : annihilate
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for wipeout
Synonyms: Verb
- abolish,
- annihilate,
- black out,
- blot out,
- cancel,
- clean (up),
- efface,
- eradicate,
- erase,
- expunge,
- exterminate,
- extirpate,
- liquidate,
- obliterate,
- root (out),
- rub out,
- snuff (out),
- stamp (out),
- sweep (away)
Examples of wipeout in a Sentence
Noun
The surfer had a nasty wipeout. Verb
he didn't get his gambling under control until he had already wiped out his entire life savings
Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Singh has called for a thorough review of the government’s coronavirus response, and has warned of a wipeout of the opposition in this vote.
—
Faris Mokhtar, Bloomberg.com, "The People You Should Care About in Singapore’s Election," 6 July 2020 Scouts say Chamberlain has a low- to mid-90s fastball along with a wipeout curveball.
—
oregonlive, "Oregon State pitcher Christian Chamberlain selected in 4th round of 2020 MLB draft by Kansas City Royals," 11 June 2020 After losing seven seats in the last midterm election, California Republicans have built up their get-out-the-vote operations to avoid another wipeout.
—
Kerry Picket, Washington Examiner, "House Republicans suddenly optimistic about California political landscape," 14 May 2020 Russia to start foreign currency sales after ruble wipeout.
—
Lorcan Roche Kelly, Bloomberg.com, "Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day," 29 Apr. 2020 At an earlier time, the wipeout of a single trip would have been considered disruptive.
—
Steven Levy, Wired, "During a Pandemic, the Big Event Is No Events," 27 Mar. 2020 Still, Netflix will survive, and that its wipeout stands out more at Sundance underscores what a dramatically sound year this was for the festival.
—
Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, "The best movies that came out of the 2020 Sundance Film Festival," 5 Feb. 2020 After all, the 2⅔ -inning wipeout of David Price by the Yankees on Sunday night represented the continuation of a pattern, not a departure.
—
Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, "Is it over for the Red Sox? Here’s what history says," 5 Aug. 2019 After horrible wipeouts in Iowa and New Hampshire and a distant second-place finish in Nevada, the former vice president had been written off.
—
Karl Rove, WSJ, "Biden May Be Saving the Democrats," 4 Mar. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In just a few months, the virus has managed to wipe out years of gains and push millions of people around the world into new economic hardship.
—
Ivana Kottasová, CNN, "What you need to know about coronavirus on Friday, July 31," 31 July 2020 Brindle estimated that machine sales are up 20 percent to 30 percent industry-wide, enough to wipe out most company inventories.
—
Richard Marini, ExpressNews.com, "People are sewing again all over U.S., San Antonio in new wave of crafting during coronavirus pandemic," 10 July 2020 That would wipe out four more non-conference games for the MAC.
—
Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press, "MAC commissioner shocked at timing of Big Ten's decision to drop non-conference foes," 10 July 2020 Lysol is the first surface disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency to wipe out the coronavirus, the agency announced this week.
—
Sarah Brookbank, The Enquirer, "What cleaning products are approved to kill coronavirus? Lysol, Microban 24, Clorox," 8 July 2020 In two major Independence Day speeches, Trump appealed to his political base, including disaffected white voters, by accusing opponents of attempting to wipe out American history by targeting Confederate monuments and statues of slave owners.
—
Rob Crilly, Washington Examiner, "White House says Trump tweet neutral on NASCAR flying Confederate flag," 6 July 2020 Even the most extreme dimming scenario from the Deccan Traps didn’t wipe out dinosaurs’ ecological niche, the new study shows.
—
Michael Greshko, National Geographic, "Volcanoes may have helped life bounce back after dinosaur-killing asteroid strike," 29 June 2020 That would wipe out student debt entirely for three-quarters of American workers.
—
Randi Weingarten, Fortune, "Student debt is making it harder to defeat the coronavirus," 25 June 2020 Next, bankruptcy may not wipe out all of your debts.
—
Steve Strauss, USA TODAY, "No entrepreneur wants to file for bankruptcy. But if you have to, here's what you should know," 24 June 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wipeout.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for wipeout
wipeout
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of wipeout
US : a sudden, violent fall by someone who is riding a bicycle, surfing, skiing, etc.
Comments on wipeout
What made you want to look up wipeout? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share wipeout
Time Traveler for wipeout
The first known use of wipeout was in 1535
See more words from the same year