wipeout

1 of 2

noun

wipe·out ˈwīp-ˌau̇t

Synonyms of wipeout next

: the act or an instance of wiping out : complete or utter destruction

: a fall or crash caused usually by losing control

: a total or decisive defeat : drubbing

wipe out

2 of 2

verb

wiped out; wiping out; wipes out

transitive verb

: to destroy completely : annihilate

intransitive verb

: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control

Example Sentences

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

You should also be prepared to replace your helmet after every crash that involves head impact and at least every five years regardless of your wipeout status. —

Lydia Price, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2023 And in Florida, even amid a Democratic wipeout, the first Gen Z-er was elected to Congress. —

Ashley Aylward, Time, 10 Nov. 2022 Familia, whose fastball averages 95-96 mph, and Adams, who has had a wipeout slider, could fit the bill, as well. —

Nick Piecoro, The Arizona Republic, 28 Jan. 2023 The 2022 midterm elections were widely forecast to be a wipeout for Democrats. —

David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 9 Nov. 2022 Tom Brady, Gisele Bundchen and more big names are among the FTX shareholders facing a wipeout. —

Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2023 Low approval ratings for President Biden, decades-high inflation, worries about a recession, and crime that spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic all pointed to a wipeout for Democrats. —

Time, 12 Nov. 2022 Traders are on edge after a series of collapses this year, including the $40 billion wipeout of two cryptocurrencies in April, the high-profile failures of several crypto firms over the summer and the demise of crypto exchange FTX. —

Vicky Ge Huang, WSJ, 13 Dec. 2022 Many of them fell victim to the Democratic wipeout in 2010. —

Alec Macgillis, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2022

Verb

The plan could wipe out $400 billion in federal student debt, but borrowers owe a total of $1.76 trillion in federal and private loans, according to the US Federal Reserve. —

Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 6 Mar. 2023 One bout of avian flu can wipe out production for an entire season. —

Elena Bruess, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Mar. 2023 The question at hand is whether the administration overstepped its authority by attempting to wipe out about $400 billion in student loan debt unilaterally – without going through Congress. —

John Fritze, USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2023 These days, the prospect of a connection conjures images of Planes Trains and Automobiles: One storm in Chicago can wipe out holiday gatherings across the country. —

Elizabeth Souder, Quartz, 7 Dec. 2022 But what exactly would wipe out millions of alien civilizations? —

Joshua Hawkins, BGR, 15 Nov. 2022 Chemical insecticides, while being terrible for both animals and humans alike, also wipe out bee populations and pollute our water supply. —

Natasha Li Pickowicz, Bon Appétit, 3 Nov. 2022 Recessions wipe out businesses that had been limping through good times. —

Gary Rivlin, Time, 2 Nov. 2022 The program could wipe out the entirety of student loan debt for roughly 125,000 Arkansans. —

Neal Earley, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2022 See More

These 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.