as in eradicating
to destroy all traces of
in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring
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Recent Examples of obliterating
Water raged even higher this time (nearly 8 feet over the top of the spillway) and became a monster, obliterating parts of the neighborhood.
—
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
After a two-hour rain delay, the game was called, obliterating it from the record books.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
That would be a 27 percent increase over the record of 11, set by the Big East in 2011 — which sounds more like obliterating the record than merely breaking it.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Rather than obliterating Israel, Gaza became the battlefield, and many innocent Gazans have paid a terrifying price for Hamas' folly.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a trail of destruction.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
The fire is one of six blazes that have erupted in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
This had to be some existential rebuttal to the fire obliterating the Pacific Palisades across town.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
After a two-hour rain delay, the game was called, obliterating it from the record books.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
That would be a 27 percent increase over the record of 11, set by the Big East in 2011 — which sounds more like obliterating the record than merely breaking it.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Rather than obliterating Israel, Gaza became the battlefield, and many innocent Gazans have paid a terrifying price for Hamas' folly.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a trail of destruction.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
The fire is one of six blazes that have erupted in the Los Angeles area since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction.
—Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
This had to be some existential rebuttal to the fire obliterating the Pacific Palisades across town.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a catastrophic trail of destruction.
—Edward Segarra, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterating
Verb
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Tesla is now on the cusp of erasing its postelection gains.—
Brian Evans,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2025
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What To Know Stocks plummeted in morning trading on Wall Street, erasing all S&P 500 gains since Election Day.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But if enacted, some of the ideas proposed also risk destroying a nascent private sector and worsening the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Online records show that Lamb was charged with homicide, kidnap-false imprisonment, evidence-destroying and procure for prostitute.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Actually abolishing the department will require action from Congress, but the effort could have major implications for everything from universities’ federal funding to college students applying for loans to pay for their education.—
The Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2025
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While the order, and its potential effect, sent shockwaves across Missouri and the nation, actually abolishing the Education Department will still require action from Congress.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obliterating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterating. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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