obliterate
5 synonyms and 3 antonyms for obliterate, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
efface
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.
“The bombing raid obliterated the entire village.”
Opposites
How to use obliterate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
completely obliterate
obliterate all traces
Etymology
From Latin obliterare, "to blot out, erase," probably from ob- + littera ("letter").
Full origin of obliterate →Frequently asked questions
What does “obliterate” mean?
The word “obliterate” means to destroy something completely, leaving no trace. In plain terms, to wipe something out so completely that nothing is left of it.
How do you pronounce “obliterate”?
“Obliterate” is pronounced uh-BLIH-tuh-rayt (/əˈblɪtəˌɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “obliterate” in a sentence?
Here is “obliterate” used in a sentence: “The bombing raid obliterated the entire village.”
What part of speech is “obliterate”?
“Obliterate” is a verb.
Where does the word “obliterate” come from?
The word “obliterate” comes from Latin. From Latin obliterare, "to blot out, erase," probably from ob- + littera ("letter").
How many meanings does “obliterate” have?
“Obliterate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to destroy something completely, leaving no trace.
