as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obliterate
The tools to obliterate the condition already exist.
—
ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Instead of simply challenging the more foolish of those woke policies, our federal and state governments seem hell bent on obliterating any activity that even hints of DEI.
—Maurice O'Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The combustible Bublik, meanwhile, played to type, obliterating his racket after losing the second set against Hijikata.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
So your sense is that maybe the strikes hadn’t obliterated Iran’s nuclear program?
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obliterate
ABC News, 12 Mar. 2026
Instead of simply challenging the more foolish of those woke policies, our federal and state governments seem hell bent on obliterating any activity that even hints of DEI.
—Maurice O'Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
The combustible Bublik, meanwhile, played to type, obliterating his racket after losing the second set against Hijikata.
—James Hansen, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
So your sense is that maybe the strikes hadn’t obliterated Iran’s nuclear program?
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for obliterate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterate
Verb
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But screening for latent TB — with treatment that can last up to nine months to fully eradicate the bacteria — is an expensive endeavor with a low payoff, considering that only 5% of people with latent TB will develop into an active case.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
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If the name isn't enough to deter you, Langelo warns that bishop's weed (Aegopodium podagraria) is an extremely aggressive grower that is challenging to eradicate.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Red Raiders erase a 21-point deficit.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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When young mice that were housed with older mice were given antibiotics, however, the effect was erased.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Front and rear wings are simplified, and the sport’s controversial Drag Reduction System (DRS)—long considered to create artificial overtaking—has been abolished.—
Brad Spurgeon,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
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In Steven Spielberg's historical drama, which focuses on Lincoln's final months working to abolish slavery via the 13th Amendment, Day-Lewis uncannily looks the part and also fills it with grace and gravitas.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Weeks later, his father was killed in a fire that destroyed the home Hamlin purchased to thank his parents for getting him into NASCAR.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Mar. 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said its systems intercepted and destroyed 10 drones over the capital, Riyadh, and the kingdom’s eastern region.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliterate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterate. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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