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
Byalena Botros, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing Gypsy swing with the Hot Club of SF is still his flagship project, but the group is still getting back on track after the pandemic wipeout, which led Price to look in other pastures.
—Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Liza Koshy is a total pro at keeping her cool — even when faced with an Oscars wipeout.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
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
Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Detroit exited bankruptcy in December 2014 with about $7 billion in debt restructured or wiped out.
—Corey Williams, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Since then, the toxic toads have marched steadily westward — and wiped out entire populations of quolls, which eat the alien amphibians.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The Democratic senators criticized Bailey and other Republican attorneys general for pushing back against the Biden administration’s attempts to wipe out student loan debt.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The Department of Education relied on the 2003 HEROES Act as its legal justification for wiping out roughly $430 billion in debt.
—Bo Erickson, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
His absence allows the Fire Nation to wipe out the Air Nomads and wage a war for global domination.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
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
Noun
Capital Economics, a research firm, estimated a $590 billion loss in commercial real estate property values last year, followed by another $480 billion wipeout this year.
—Byalena Botros, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
Playing Gypsy swing with the Hot Club of SF is still his flagship project, but the group is still getting back on track after the pandemic wipeout, which led Price to look in other pastures.
—Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024
Liza Koshy is a total pro at keeping her cool — even when faced with an Oscars wipeout.
—Hedy Phillips, Peoplemag, 11 Mar. 2024
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
Verb
The always-on gadgets that were supposed to make my life easier, more fun, and more productive, now often disrupt my sleep, ruin any semblance of work-life balance, and wipe out my self-esteem.
—Jennifer Jolly, USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024
Detroit exited bankruptcy in December 2014 with about $7 billion in debt restructured or wiped out.
—Corey Williams, Quartz, 16 Apr. 2024
Since then, the toxic toads have marched steadily westward — and wiped out entire populations of quolls, which eat the alien amphibians.
—Emily Anthes Chang W. Lee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2024
The Democratic senators criticized Bailey and other Republican attorneys general for pushing back against the Biden administration’s attempts to wipe out student loan debt.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
The Department of Education relied on the 2003 HEROES Act as its legal justification for wiping out roughly $430 billion in debt.
—Bo Erickson, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2024
His absence allows the Fire Nation to wipe out the Air Nomads and wage a war for global domination.
—Nick Romano, EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near wipeout
Cite this Entry
“Wipeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wipeout. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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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