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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of obliteration
Israel’s military obliteration of Gaza does not result in total triumph.
—
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The app and his ears were the only things protecting him against the prospect of sudden obliteration by a 100,000-metric-ton bulk carrier.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The New Yorker this week devotes its entire editorial space to an article on the almost complete obliteration of a city by one atomic bomb, and what happened to the people of that city.
—Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
After those attacks the total obliteration of Hamas was called for by Israel and its allies and was expected.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
After those attacks the total obliteration of Hamas was called for by Israel and its allies and was expected.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 10 Aug. 2025
Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
The app and his ears were the only things protecting him against the prospect of sudden obliteration by a 100,000-metric-ton bulk carrier.
—Nathaniel Rich, Harpers Magazine, 20 Aug. 2025
The New Yorker this week devotes its entire editorial space to an article on the almost complete obliteration of a city by one atomic bomb, and what happened to the people of that city.
—Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2025
After those attacks the total obliteration of Hamas was called for by Israel and its allies and was expected.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2025
After those attacks the total obliteration of Hamas was called for by Israel and its allies and was expected.
—Walden Green, Pitchfork, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliteration
Noun
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Critical wildlife habitat may be put at risk for alteration or wholesale destruction.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And that's not where the worst of the devastation lies.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
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Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, published in three parts in the magazine in 1962 and later as a book, alerted the country to the devastation of the pesticide DDT and is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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While not all of the federal government’s tariff revenue is at risk, losing a huge chunk would still create havoc on the deficit and bond market.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
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Steve gently coaxes him back to school, where the film crew is causing havoc.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Approximately 44% of global reef-building coral species are at risk of extinction due to climate change, the International Union for Conservation of Nature said in its 2024 Red List of Threatened Species.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
3 Sep. 2025
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Barriers like highways, fencing, border walls and other development projects threaten to leave roaming species without the option to expand, ultimately leading to localized extinction.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Operating losses, management missteps — including a disastrous 2011 Super Bowl ad — and a rapid post-IPO decline in valuation led to the 2013 ouster of Mason as CEO.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Many animals have adapted to water scarcity, with seasonal migrations, nocturnal habits and burrowing during the worst of the heat to offset water loss.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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There is nothing to choose between them, but there was a consistency, clinical edge and an abracadabra touch that made this performance the best Alcaraz has played in a major final, barring that 2024 demolition of Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Historic districts come with additional rules and regulations for renovations, construction and demolitions.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obliteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliteration. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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