obliterate

verb

ə-ˈbli-tə-ˌrāt How to pronounce obliterate (audio)
Definition of obliteratenext
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obliterate The hulking, five-story border checkpoint facility, which loomed over the surrounding area in the grand style of Chinese government facilities, has been obliterated. — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026 The vaunted Miami Hurricanes were able to obliterate an undermanned Stanford team out west, and the Michigan State Spartans kicked off the Pat Fitzgerald era in style with a 30-20 win over MAC darlings Toledo on Friday. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026 More than 1,000 people are dead and nearly 4,000 missing after a Himalayan glacial collapse unleashed catastrophic floods across the Nepal-China border, obliterating roads, towns and hydropower projects. — Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 Travel obliterates almost all our comforting routines and habits. — Anita Bhagwandas, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obliterate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterate
  1. eradicate
  2. erase
  3. abolish
  4. destroy
Verb
  • Swaminarayan monks, who practice the eightfold version, see it as an important way to help eradicate all traces of desire and remain singularly focused on God.
    — Bhakti Mamtora, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Community meetings focus on eradicating the homeless and protecting property values rather than supporting neighbors or providing shelter.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • Conradt also began to delete his MySpace profile, the Times reported, in an apparent attempt to erase his online footprint.
    — Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Sneed recovered what would have been a game-clinching fumble, but replay review erased the call.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of erase
Verb
  • The vice president also blasted Nixon, who is in an uphill race to defeat Moody, for supporting defunding the police and abolishing prisons.
    — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Coleman later joins forces with HopesAndDrums for a house mix that calls for abolishing ICE.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • Although much of the population in Java converted to Islam and Borobudur was abandoned, it was not destroyed.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Careers are destroyed, lawsuits follow, and administrators calculate their exposure.
    — Zain Khalid, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of destroy

Browse Nearby Words

obliquity
obliterate
obliterated
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Cite this Entry

“Obliterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterate. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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