Synonyms of obliteration

obliteration

noun

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

• destruction
• devastation
• havoc
• extinction
• loss
• demolition
• extermination
• annihilation
• decimation
• wastage
• ruin
• ruination
• demolishment
• wreckage
• desolation
• collapse
• disintegration
• mincemeat
• dissolution
• slaughter
• depredation
• execution
• massacre
• despoliation
• breakup
• despoilment
• killing
• assassination
• eradication
• effacement
• dismantlement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• construction
• building
• erection
• salvation
• saving
• raising
• rescue
• preservation
• protection
• salvage
• conservation
• restoration
• reclamation
• reconstruction
• remodeling
• renovation
• re-creation
• refurbishment
• regeneracy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of obliteration

In 1880, a local history of Pickaway County expressed regret over the obliteration of its earthworks. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Kusama’s talk of self-obliteration sounds vaguely Buddhist or Taoist. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

The rooms were part of Kusama’s ongoing exploration of self-obliteration and her career-long ambition to create work that provokes a keen awareness of both one’s individual insignificance and place in the wider cosmic system. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

The theme of self-obliteration carried over into a 1968 film by Kusama of the same title, in which polka dots flowed out of her paintings and onto people’s bodies. — News Desk, Artforum, 27 Aug. 2026

There was Kyle Harrison’s revenge game and Logan Webb’s first true gem of the season; the 19-run outburst and the seven-homer barrage; the walk-off losses and the 14-run obliteration; the introduction of third base coach Gary Pettis and the shocking promotion of outfielder Jonah Cox. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026

This was an obliteration, of a player one year his senior. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 3 June 2026

Visitors are stunned seeing the rampant, deliberate obliteration of the character of Hillcrest. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026

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