wipe·out
ˈwīp-ˌau̇t 
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
wiped out; wiping out; wipes out
: to destroy completely : annihilate
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
Synonyms
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
Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Nikki Haley is still running in the Republican primary but polls predict a wipeout on Super Tuesday, with 15 states in play.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Next up: at USC (Thursday) Comment: And thus completes one of ASU’s worst competition years ever against Arizona in the two major sports, with a 36-point wipeout in the Territorial Cup and losses on the hardwood by 45 (road) and 18 (home) points.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024
In elections that October, Ms. Campbell, the former defense minister who had succeeded Mr. Mulroney, suffered a near wipeout after just a few months in office.
—Alan Cowell, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
The transition between these two periods entailed a wipeout of nearly half of all species, referred to as the Cambrian-Ordovician extinction event.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
Lenny's talking about the unfortunate, yet inevitable, mishap that happens more frequently than not to surfers: wipeouts.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
The Conservatives would crash from the 365-seat landslide that Johnson won in 2019 to as few as 150 seats — worse than their 1997 wipeout, when John Major won only 165 seats and Blair stormed in.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
Not even a serious wipeout can keep DJ Khaled off the golf course.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 June 2023
Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Research for that story led me to information that the next stage of the same highway project – starting this spring – would wipe out Elmwood Place's Towne Street interchange to and from I-75.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
The price dip has wiped out billions of dollars from the company’s market value.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Picture a supplement that wipes out all your unwanted fat—now that would be something!
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Flash flood wipes out bridge, kills 23 in 1970
A flash flood in the Mogollon Rim area killed 23 and washed out bridges on Labor Day in 1970.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The plan’s failure wipes out a significant legacy-making opportunity for a novice politician who burst onto the scene in 2021 and drew national attention as a fresh Republican face.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Key Bridge, which experts said would take years to replace, was a major north-south artery, and its collapse wiped out a roadway that tens of thousands of people used to travel to and from Baltimore every day.
—Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Real-time antivirus wiped out another 8%, for a total of 84% protection.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
Noun
Mid-to-upper 90s with a legit wipeout breaking ball.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 25 Mar. 2024
Nikki Haley is still running in the Republican primary but polls predict a wipeout on Super Tuesday, with 15 states in play.
—Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024
Next up: at USC (Thursday) Comment: And thus completes one of ASU’s worst competition years ever against Arizona in the two major sports, with a 36-point wipeout in the Territorial Cup and losses on the hardwood by 45 (road) and 18 (home) points.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024
In elections that October, Ms. Campbell, the former defense minister who had succeeded Mr. Mulroney, suffered a near wipeout after just a few months in office.
—Alan Cowell, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
The transition between these two periods entailed a wipeout of nearly half of all species, referred to as the Cambrian-Ordovician extinction event.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
Lenny's talking about the unfortunate, yet inevitable, mishap that happens more frequently than not to surfers: wipeouts.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
The Conservatives would crash from the 365-seat landslide that Johnson won in 2019 to as few as 150 seats — worse than their 1997 wipeout, when John Major won only 165 seats and Blair stormed in.
—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024
Not even a serious wipeout can keep DJ Khaled off the golf course.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 16 June 2023
Verb
The violence has wiped out neighborhoods, cultural landmarks and historic sites, and brought the population to the brink of starvation and famine.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
Research for that story led me to information that the next stage of the same highway project – starting this spring – would wipe out Elmwood Place's Towne Street interchange to and from I-75.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
The price dip has wiped out billions of dollars from the company’s market value.
—Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Picture a supplement that wipes out all your unwanted fat—now that would be something!
—Robert James and, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2024
Flash flood wipes out bridge, kills 23 in 1970
A flash flood in the Mogollon Rim area killed 23 and washed out bridges on Labor Day in 1970.
—Dylan Wickman, The Arizona Republic, 28 Mar. 2024
The plan’s failure wipes out a significant legacy-making opportunity for a novice politician who burst onto the scene in 2021 and drew national attention as a fresh Republican face.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
The Key Bridge, which experts said would take years to replace, was a major north-south artery, and its collapse wiped out a roadway that tens of thousands of people used to travel to and from Baltimore every day.
—Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2024
Real-time antivirus wiped out another 8%, for a total of 84% protection.
—PCMAG, 26 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wipeout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Dictionary Entries Near wipeout
Cite this Entry
“Wipeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wipeout. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
wipeout
1 of 2 noun
wipe·out
ˈwīp-ˌau̇t
1
: complete destruction
2
: a fall or crash caused usually by losing control
wipeouts on the downhill ski course are common
3
: total or final defeat
couldn't bear to watch the team's wipeout
wipe out
2 of 2 verb1
: to destroy completely
crops wiped out by flooding
2
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
the surfer wiped out
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