as in erases
to destroy all traces of
in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 obliterates
Rozman has been teaching chess for years, and in his experience, chess obliterates a kid’s inability to cope with defeat.
—
Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026
Obviously, that obliterates all those concerns.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After Cruise's Ethan Hunt is falsely accused of planting a bomb that nearly obliterates the Kremlin, he is secretly tasked with exposing the real culprit, teaming with fellow agents Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) and an intelligence analyst (Jeremy Renner) on a covert mission.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, several themes and visuals from their disaster thriller about a comet that obliterates the majority of Earth were on display in real time.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Then Godzilla absolutely obliterates him with his atomic breath.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
This, to put it mildly, is not ideal, not when it is put together with the kind of afternoon which obliterates mitigation.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
In this new gem, the USS Farragut is on a planetary survey of Helicon Gamma when a shark-like scavenger spaceship appears and obliterates the planet.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026
Obviously, that obliterates all those concerns.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After Cruise's Ethan Hunt is falsely accused of planting a bomb that nearly obliterates the Kremlin, he is secretly tasked with exposing the real culprit, teaming with fellow agents Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) and an intelligence analyst (Jeremy Renner) on a covert mission.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, several themes and visuals from their disaster thriller about a comet that obliterates the majority of Earth were on display in real time.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Then Godzilla absolutely obliterates him with his atomic breath.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
This, to put it mildly, is not ideal, not when it is put together with the kind of afternoon which obliterates mitigation.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
In this new gem, the USS Farragut is on a planetary survey of Helicon Gamma when a shark-like scavenger spaceship appears and obliterates the planet.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterates
Verb
-
But a 4-6-3 double play erases the threat.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The irony being that, according to Over The Cap, Hendrickson’s signing erases a 2027 comp pick that would have gone to the Ravens and sends one to Cincinnati.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The path to health involves aggressive treatment that eradicates the disease.—
Pedro A. Rojas Arroyo,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, this measure abolishes them.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
-
The Iranian parliament has just approved a law that abolishes prison sentences for those who had to leave Iran illegally.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
After a catastrophic debris strike destroys their shuttle during a spacewalk, Sandra Bullock’s astronaut is left untethered, spinning silently against the vastness of space, while George Clooney’s veteran astronaut tries to guide her from a distance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
What starts as a series that aims to subvert the heist genre at every turn – amped with thrilling life-or-death stakes, family dynamics, and explosive action – gives birth to an exploration of what drives us, sustains us, and ultimately destroys us.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliterates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterates. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
