verb

obliterate

uh-BLIH-tuh-rayt

Obliterate (verb) means to destroy something completely, leaving no trace. Example: “The bombing raid obliterated the entire village.”

verb

To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.

"The bombing raid obliterated the entire village."

"Years of erosion had obliterated the old carvings."

To rub out or make text or a mark impossible to read.

"Water damage had obliterated most of the handwriting on the letter."

How to use obliterate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wipe something out so completely that nothing is left of it.

Common pairings

completely obliterate obliterate all traces

Word forms

more obliterate comparative, obliterated past tense, obliterate plural, obliterated plural, obliterates singular, obliterate singular, obliterated singular, obliteratest singular, obliteratedst singular, obliterateth singular, most obliterate superlative

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Can you complete this real example?

The bombing raid _____ the entire village.

Etymology

From Latin obliterare, "to blot out, erase," probably from ob- + littera ("letter").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for obliterate

ate date rate mate fate abate slate plate state grate create update

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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.