verb

obliterate

uh-BLIH-tuh-rayt

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").

Rhymes for obliterate

ate date rate mate fate gate hate pate late Nate Kate cate

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