as in eradicating
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 obliterating
The entire lighting system can be neutralized by flipping a single switch, obliterating all visibility except for a spotlight on the enemy’s crotch.
—
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
If the 38 days of devastating air strikes that began on 28 February failed to bring Tehran to heel, what difference would obliterating a few more targets make?
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
23 May 2026
In the East, that means obliterating the recent past and starting anew in pursuit of communist utopian dreams under the already alarmingly heavy hand of the Russians.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
That’s Racine’s journey, completely reopening, obliterating, and doing surgery on the wound.
—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Mikko Rantanen was obliterating Jared Spurgeon behind the net, separating him from the puck and nearly separating his head from his body.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Lasers fly at them, obliterating many.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
In other words, the state’s own wildfire failures are obliterating its climate goals.
—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
And if the immediate risk wasn't enough, the heat is also obliterating the snowpack across the intermountain West.
—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Dahlia Gallin Ramirez,
New Yorker,
9 June 2026
If the 38 days of devastating air strikes that began on 28 February failed to bring Tehran to heel, what difference would obliterating a few more targets make?
—
The Week Uk,
TheWeek,
23 May 2026
In the East, that means obliterating the recent past and starting anew in pursuit of communist utopian dreams under the already alarmingly heavy hand of the Russians.
—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
15 May 2026
That’s Racine’s journey, completely reopening, obliterating, and doing surgery on the wound.
—
Juan A. Ramírez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Mikko Rantanen was obliterating Jared Spurgeon behind the net, separating him from the puck and nearly separating his head from his body.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Lasers fly at them, obliterating many.
—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
In other words, the state’s own wildfire failures are obliterating its climate goals.
—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Apr. 2026
And if the immediate risk wasn't enough, the heat is also obliterating the snowpack across the intermountain West.
—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterating
Verb
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Frustratingly, Rubus armeniacus is notoriously difficult to get rid of, as traditional approaches to invasive management such as fire, herbicide, and mowing are insufficient at eradicating the plant.
-
Incomplete or inappropriate antibiotic courses amplify this effect by exposing bacteria to sub-therapeutic drug concentrations without eradicating them.
Verb
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Maybe Destiny 2 needed to end at some point, but there’s a difference between that and announcing the next stage of the IP, and erasing it from existence and laying off the hundreds of talented team members still making great content right down to the last minute.
-
Electronic dance music scholars have noted that countercultural scenes have shifted into a global industry, reshaping or erasing local meanings in favor of commercialization.
Verb
-
Among the subjects Avila Chevalier says Democrats should focus on are affordability, federal budgets focused on aiding working people, and a more just immigration system — including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
-
Avila Chevalier survived a deluge of attacks for previous social media posts that called for abolishing the police and prisons.
Verb
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Mexican fruit flies are one of the world’s most destructive pests when laying their eggs, destroying or damaging fruit such as apples, grapefruits, avocados, peaches and pears, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
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But Blue Origin suffered a major setback in May when one of its New Glenn rockets abruptly exploded on the launchpad, destroying vital infrastructure that will take months to rebuild.
Cite this Entry
“Obliterating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterating. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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