as in erases
to destroy all traces of
in a stroke, the March snowstorm obliterated our hopes for an early spring
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Recent Examples of obliterates
There’s never just one reason why a movie like this so wholly obliterates expectations.
—
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Rozman has been teaching chess for years, and in his experience, chess obliterates a kid’s inability to cope with defeat.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026
Obviously, that obliterates all those concerns.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After Cruise's Ethan Hunt is falsely accused of planting a bomb that nearly obliterates the Kremlin, he is secretly tasked with exposing the real culprit, teaming with fellow agents Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) and an intelligence analyst (Jeremy Renner) on a covert mission.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, several themes and visuals from their disaster thriller about a comet that obliterates the majority of Earth were on display in real time.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Then Godzilla absolutely obliterates him with his atomic breath.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
This, to put it mildly, is not ideal, not when it is put together with the kind of afternoon which obliterates mitigation.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Brian Welk, IndieWire, 23 Mar. 2026
Rozman has been teaching chess for years, and in his experience, chess obliterates a kid’s inability to cope with defeat.
—Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 12 Mar. 2026
Obviously, that obliterates all those concerns.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Moscow is at the mercy of an American president who circumvents traditional channels of power and obliterates the constraints that once regulated their use.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
After Cruise's Ethan Hunt is falsely accused of planting a bomb that nearly obliterates the Kremlin, he is secretly tasked with exposing the real culprit, teaming with fellow agents Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg) and an intelligence analyst (Jeremy Renner) on a covert mission.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026
Suddenly, several themes and visuals from their disaster thriller about a comet that obliterates the majority of Earth were on display in real time.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 9 Jan. 2026
Then Godzilla absolutely obliterates him with his atomic breath.
—James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
This, to put it mildly, is not ideal, not when it is put together with the kind of afternoon which obliterates mitigation.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterates
Verb
-
Some see an opportunity for more informed conversations Whether or not the city ultimately erases Chavez's name from public spaces, some think this is an opportunity to highlight other pivotal labor leaders – including Filipino organizer Larry Itliong.—
Kerry Klein,
NPR,
31 Mar. 2026
-
That prescription erases one-quarter of the shortfalls and saves $190 billion over the next decade.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This method completely eradicates weeds on contact without any toxic chemicals.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
-
These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Instead, this measure abolishes them.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
31 Aug. 2025
-
The Iranian parliament has just approved a law that abolishes prison sentences for those who had to leave Iran illegally.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Rototilling also destroys earthworms and the critical beneficial microbes that interact with plant roots to keep them healthy.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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Because scarring alopecia destroys the hair follicles, the resulting hair loss is permanent.—
Rebecca Strong,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obliterates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterates. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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