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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Taking office as a result of the most corrupt Election ever seen in the United States, Biden oversaw a series of unprecedented disasters that brought our Nation to the brink of destruction.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Tony Blain, who resigned from his council seat last fall, is also accused of destruction of public documents and misdemeanor petty theft, according to the criminal complaint filed in October.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Vulcan Society, an organization of Black firefighters, also expressed their devastation over Lynch’s death.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The councilwoman emphasized that every neighborhood in Los Angeles is just one disaster from devastation.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Max wreaks some more havoc after the excursion by gunning it on the tender while towing guests on the tube.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Police officers stationed downtown that night quickly apprehended Edgar amid the havoc of the crowd fleeing for their lives.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That one saw John Garrity (Butler) maximizing his privilege by leading his estranged wife, Allison (Morena Baccarin), and their diabetic son, Nathan, to an extinction-proof shelter that had been reserved for people like them.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Although commercial whaling once pushed the species to the brink of extinction, fin whale populations in the Atlantic have shown signs of recovery in recent decades following international bans and protections under laws such as the Marine Mammal Protection Act.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But those guards fell crashing down on Wednesday night in a brutally honest assessment of his team following Boise State’s (9-6, 1-3 Mountain West) 75-58 home loss to Grand Canyon (9-5, 2-1) at ExtraMile Arena.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Despite the losses, Damon traveled to Texas and won the national title, dedicating the victory to his family and supporters.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Representatives from the developer said on Monday that the city's ordinance did not list the blacksmith shop as a protected landmark and that demolition is in the best interest of the community.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
In 2012, Roberts joined the Court’s liberal justices to spare the law from wholesale demolition; the remaining conservatives voted to strike it down in full.—
Duncan Hosie,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliteration. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
