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 gratuitous act obliterates both his self-image and his indecision, sparking not just a split with Irène but a total rupture with the social fabric of his present life. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 July 2026 Near the speed of light, special relativity wreaks havoc on clocks and time, obliterating the concept of simultaneity among observers traveling at different speeds. — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 The situation has grown bleaker in the last decade and a half as commercial pressures have ramped up and media consolidation and digital shortsightedness have obliterated arts coverage. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 In an era where artificial intelligence automation stands ready to obliterate the job market, the hands-on care of healthcare will continue to do the heavy lifting. — Barb Clapp, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for obliterate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterate
  1. eradicate
  2. erase
  3. abolish
  4. destroy
Verb
  • Four Months Before the Wedding If your primary concern is eradicating sun spots or hyperpigmentation before your wedding—whether that be on your face or body—speak with your dermatologist about the possibility of laser treatments.
    — Rio Viera-Newton, Vogue, 23 July 2026
  • Four centuries later, in the mid-20th century, China’s government similarly encouraged people to eradicate over a billion sparrows to prevent them from depleting grain supplies.
    — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026
Definition of eradicate
Verb
  • Ungrounding, on the other hand, aims to remove a society from its place and erase all traces to its previous existence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
  • Photographs capture her outline in the mud of a creek bank; in the snow blown against a tree trunk; in an arrangement of branches and flowers leaned against a tree; and in the sand on a beach, already being erased by the waves.
    — Eliza Goodpasture, ARTnews.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of erase
Verb
  • Under the 1866 treaty, the tribe abolished slavery and granted citizenship to the formerly enslaved.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Credits have been a key to Tesla’s profitability in previous challenging quarters, but they were abolished in the United States with Musk’s blessing in 2025.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 22 July 2026
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • The planters themselves get chipped, scratched, dented and, in one out of every three cases so far, destroyed.
    — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 24 July 2026
  • However, an unconfined plasma column could instantly destroy solid surfaces upon contact.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 23 July 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 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obliterate

Nglish: Translation of obliterate for Spanish Speakers

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