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
If the 38 days of devastating air strikes that began on 28 February failed to bring Tehran to heel, what difference would obliterating a few more targets make?
—
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
In the East, that means obliterating the recent past and starting anew in pursuit of communist utopian dreams under the already alarmingly heavy hand of the Russians.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
That’s Racine’s journey, completely reopening, obliterating, and doing surgery on the wound.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Mikko Rantanen was obliterating Jared Spurgeon behind the net, separating him from the puck and nearly separating his head from his body.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Lasers fly at them, obliterating many.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
In other words, the state’s own wildfire failures are obliterating its climate goals.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
And if the immediate risk wasn't enough, the heat is also obliterating the snowpack across the intermountain West.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
But many are left to contend with how to erase the veneration of Chavez the man without obliterating the history of the struggle to improve the lives of Latinos, the country’s second largest ethnic and racial group.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 23 May 2026
In the East, that means obliterating the recent past and starting anew in pursuit of communist utopian dreams under the already alarmingly heavy hand of the Russians.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
That’s Racine’s journey, completely reopening, obliterating, and doing surgery on the wound.
—Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Mikko Rantanen was obliterating Jared Spurgeon behind the net, separating him from the puck and nearly separating his head from his body.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Lasers fly at them, obliterating many.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
In other words, the state’s own wildfire failures are obliterating its climate goals.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026
And if the immediate risk wasn't enough, the heat is also obliterating the snowpack across the intermountain West.
—Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 23 Mar. 2026
But many are left to contend with how to erase the veneration of Chavez the man without obliterating the history of the struggle to improve the lives of Latinos, the country’s second largest ethnic and racial group.
—Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterating
Verb
-
Blaine begins to relentlessly beat Sam in retaliation for eradicating his wife, Anneliese.—
Lynsey Eidell,
PEOPLE,
23 May 2026
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The new state consumer services agency will focus on eradicating junk fees, increasing online privacy protections and overseeing oil companies, according to Newsom’s office.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Brought in to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning, Scott gave up three runs, including two on a home run by Edmundo Sosa, erasing an excellent start from Roki Sasaki and ending the Dodgers’ six-game winning streak with a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday night.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
31 May 2026
-
Shop wrinkle-erasing retinol treatments, glowy skin boosters, foundation-replacing skin tints, and more from just $7.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Verb
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The most prominent of these activists is Joyce McMillan, who, after her own children were taken and returned, founded JMACforFamilies, an organization with the goal of abolishing the child-protective system altogether.—
Larissa MacFarquhar,
New Yorker,
28 May 2026
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While politicians can write all sorts of legislation meant to keep kids off smartphones and away from apps, games, and content not appropriate for them, merely writing a law is not the same as abolishing a market.—
John Tamny,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
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It was compounded when a West Contra Costa storage unit caught fire, destroying Alvin’s belongings, their mother testified.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Truly domesticating bees required a hive with movable frames, one that would allow beekeepers to examine their bees and harvest honey without destroying the colony.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliterating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterating. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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