obliteration

American  

[uh-blit-uh-rey-shuhn] / əˌblɪt əˈreɪ ʃən /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• obliterative adjective

Etymology

Origin of obliteration

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

Example Sentences

The more philosemitic disagreed, suggesting instead accommodations that could only possibly end in Israel’s obliteration.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I believe it was total obliteration,” the president told reporters.

From Salon

They’re minors in the modern world, where naivete is a currency that buys a one-way ticket to the obliteration of their innocence.

From Salon

And an obliteration of this magnitude required a perfect storm of factors that few would have predicted several days ahead of time.

From Los Angeles Times

The director is well aware that the heyday of American musicals on both stage and screen occurred amid the Great Depression, World War II, the Holocaust and the brink of nuclear obliteration.

From Los Angeles Times