obliteration

[ uh-blit-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of obliterating or the state of being obliterated.
2. Pathology, Surgery. the removal of a part as a result of disease or surgery.

Other Words From

• ob·lit·er·a·tive [uh, -, blit, -, uh, -rey-tiv, -er-, uh, -tiv], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of obliteration¹

1650–60; < Latin oblitterātiōn- (stem of oblitterātiō ), equivalent to oblitterāt ( us ) ( obliterate ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

In Mottley’s view, that obliteration was “like a nuclear event.”

From ProPublica

In a sense, all of our yards and gardens, no matter how old, represent an obliteration of the wild plant communities that once marked the land, none more poignantly lost than the American prairie.

From Washington Post

This way, when they are yanked from their sleep by the thunderous explosion accompanying the obliteration of a nearby building, their Baba is already by their side, ready to comfort them without a moment’s delay.

From Time

Egalia, a new state-sponsored pre-school in Stockholm, is dedicated to the total obliteration of the male and female distinction.

From The Daily Beast

This dementia progresses until finally there is a state of almost complete obliteration of the mental faculties.

From Project Gutenberg

There results not only considerable obliteration of the main design, but confusion in the substituted one.

From Project Gutenberg

Its wool was subtly, silky white, Color of lucent obliteration of night, Like the shimmering snow or—our Clothild's arm!

From Project Gutenberg

We have already seen that occult practices may lead to the obliteration of all sense of truth and of normal sexual instincts.

From Project Gutenberg

That the general question of property is at all affected by the obliteration of this interest, is an egregious error.

From Project Gutenberg