as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the ill-advised obliteration of the town's historic district in order to make way for a shopping center
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of obliteration
The Butlerian Jihad ultimately resulted in the obliteration of all thinking machines, as well as a wholesale ban on any new robotic creations.
—
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that with the near-complete obliteration of the Iranian military, the next phase of the war is to destroy Iran’s arms manufacturing supply chain.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
The dangerous joy, the glee and courage, the humor in the face of fate, the wild ramble of a life driven towards the artistic heavens and the daily balm of self obliteration.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
But if the obliteration lasted only half a year, what value is there in re-obliterating it?
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
This is well-observed, though the obliteration of the frothiest market themes from their early 2021 peak was far more damaging than anything seen so far this month.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
The obliteration of both Iran’s nuclear facilities and the foreign terrorist cartels traversing the Gulf of America are clear evidence of the president's success.
—Brian Mast, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Consider how his statement complicates everything we’ve been told to believe about the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Israel’s military obliteration of Gaza does not result in total triumph.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that with the near-complete obliteration of the Iranian military, the next phase of the war is to destroy Iran’s arms manufacturing supply chain.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 14 Mar. 2026
The dangerous joy, the glee and courage, the humor in the face of fate, the wild ramble of a life driven towards the artistic heavens and the daily balm of self obliteration.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2026
But if the obliteration lasted only half a year, what value is there in re-obliterating it?
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
This is well-observed, though the obliteration of the frothiest market themes from their early 2021 peak was far more damaging than anything seen so far this month.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2025
The obliteration of both Iran’s nuclear facilities and the foreign terrorist cartels traversing the Gulf of America are clear evidence of the president's success.
—Brian Mast, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Consider how his statement complicates everything we’ve been told to believe about the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Israel’s military obliteration of Gaza does not result in total triumph.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliteration
Noun
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Officials haven't been able to assess the destruction fully but the cost of the storm could top $1 billion, including damage to airports, schools, roads, people's homes and a Maui hospital in Kula, Green said.—
Matt Gutman,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
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Crews continued to assess the destruction Monday, but authorities said hundreds of homes had been damaged, along with some schools and a hospital.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
AccuWeather expects the Western Caribbean to be the most vulnerable, especially following the devastation brought by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa in 2025 to Jamaica and Cuba.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The consequences of that sabotage added to the environmental devastation wreaked by the oil multinationals.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Working low to high, causing havoc on the forecheck, getting pucks back.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Wild extremes of temperature, a heat dome, a potent bomb cyclone blizzard, epic rainfalls and violent tornadoes have wreaked weather havoc across the nation.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
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When Indigenous people were portrayed, they were typically depicted as anti-modern figures giving way to technology and fading away into extinction.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Plains bison were nearly driven to extinction in the late 1800s, but collaboration among conservationists, organizations, and Native American communities has helped protect and conserve the species.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Wizards played without forward Justin Champagnie, who was suspended one game by the NBA for fighting and escalating an on-court altercation that spilled into the seating area during a loss to Oklahoma City on Saturday.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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Donovan learned from his father that consistency was a greater measure of character than any win or loss.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One plan saw the demolition of homes in the historic neighborhood.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Cakes of lime were found both around the barrels and on the bottoms, with some demolition material on top, the press release continues.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliteration. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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