obliterate

[ uh-blit-uh-reyt ]
See synonyms for: obliterateobliteratedobliterates on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),ob·lit·er·at·ed, ob·lit·er·at·ing.
  1. to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely.

  2. to blot out or render undecipherable (writing, marks, etc.); efface.

Origin of obliterate

1
First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin oblitterātus “effaced,” past participle of oblitterāre “to efface, cause to be forgotten,” equivalent to ob- ob- + litter(a) letter1 + -āre, infinitive verb suffix

synonym study For obliterate

2. See cancel.

Other words for obliterate

Other words from obliterate

  • ob·lit·er·a·ble [uh-blit-er-uh-buhl], /əˈblɪt ər ə bəl/, adjective
  • o·blit·er·a·tor, noun

Words Nearby obliterate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use obliterate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for obliterate

obliterate

/ (əˈblɪtəˌreɪt) /


verb
  1. (tr) to destroy every trace of; wipe out completely

Origin of obliterate

1
C16: from Latin oblitterāre to erase, from ob- out + littera letter

Derived forms of obliterate

  • obliteration, noun
  • obliterative, adjective
  • obliterator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012