Vocabulary in context
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Obliterate
To wipe out; to erase completely or destroy utterly.
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Imagine This
Oh! The sea gulls ate all the garbage from the litter pile.
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Sounds Like
uh-BLIT-uh-rate
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Looks Like
Oh! Litter ate
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Remember This
From Latin oblitērāre meaning 'to blot out, erase,' from ob- (over/against) + litera (letter).
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Other Forms
obliterationnoun
obliterativeadjective
obliteratesverb
obliteratingverb
obliteratedverb
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Note
Obliterate implies complete destruction or wiping out (often of material, records, or evidence); it is stronger than simple erasing or deleting in many contexts. Do not confuse with obviate (to remove a need) or with common misspellings like 'oblivi ate.'
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Study Deeper
Examples
- The meteor impact obliterated the ancient city.
- The data on the damaged drive was obliterated beyond recovery.
Synonyms
erasedestroyeradicatewipe outannihilate
Antonyms
preservemaintainrestore
Etymology
From Latin oblitērāre meaning 'to blot out, erase,' formed from ob- 'toward/against' + litera 'letter'.
Mnemonic
OB-LIT-ER-ATE: Think of an eraser rubbing out letters; obliterate means to blot out letters or anything else.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Eradicate
verbTo remove or destroy completely, especially something harmful or unwanted, by rooting it out or eliminating it entirely.
Efface
verbTo erase or rub out; to cause something to disappear or become indistinct by removing traces.
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
Abate
verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
Abolish
verbTo formally end or repeal a system, practice, or institution; to officially put an end to something established.
Abridge
verbTo shorten (a text, speech, or other work) by omitting parts; to condense.
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