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
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
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
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
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
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
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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The introduction of rats, dogs, cats and stoats, as well as hunting by people and destruction of native forest habitats, drove species of the country’s flourishing flightless birds — the kakapo among them — to near or complete extinction.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Speaking with Spanish language sports publication Diario Deportivo Diez the day after the Honduran club football’s worst defeat in CONCACAF, Bubara lauded LAFC for the 6-1 destruction.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The general store transitions to massive profit margins via every wart of United States history, no significant devastation is spared, no milestone overlooked.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
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Bass sacked Kristin Crowley a month after the January 2025 Palisades Fire, and her dismissal was followed by finger-pointing between the ex-chief and City Hall over the blaze's devastation and the fire department’s funding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Service on the Rockaway Shuttle resumed around noon after an early-morning power outage on the peninsula played havoc with the shuttle’s signals.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
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The historic winter storm dumping up to 2 feet of snow in the Northeast is causing air travel havoc across the country.—
Matt Leclercq,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This year, with a bumper crop of the strange parrot’s favorite berries prompting a rare enthusiasm for mating, those working to save the birds hope for a record number of chicks in February, which would move the kakapo closer to defying what was not long ago believed to be certain extinction.—
Charlotte Graham-McLay,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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In his scenario, this is what finally pushes the technology down the path toward either utopia or human extinction, but in the real world, getting the machines to act by themselves is proving surprisingly difficult.—
Sam Kriss,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Leonard exited Friday’s loss against the Lakers with an ankle sprain.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Spurs were fortunate that West Ham United only drew with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest conceded a stoppage-time goal in their loss to Liverpool.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Monitoring teams were stationed around the demolition zone to check for any radioactive contamination released during the implosion.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Feb. 2026
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His duties, totaling 16-hour workdays, included cleaning construction and demolition work, coordinating workers and hiring contractors.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliteration. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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