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
1
To destroy something completely, leaving no trace.
"The bombing raid obliterated the entire village."
"Years of erosion had obliterated the old carvings."
2
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 notesIn plain EnglishTo wipe something out so completely that nothing is left of it.
Common pairings
completely obliterate
obliterate all traces
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- obliterates
- Past tense
- obliterated
- Comparative
- more obliterate
- Superlative
- most obliterate
- Archaic forms
- obliteratest, obliteratedst, obliterateth
Fill the gap
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").
Related words
Rhymes for obliterate
See all rhymes for 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.
