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 sentiment is relatable; desire is often a catastrophic force, obliterating our best intentions for ourselves.
—
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across, obliterating Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Water raged even higher this time (nearly 8 feet over the top of the spillway) and became a monster, obliterating parts of the neighborhood.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
After a two-hour rain delay, the game was called, obliterating it from the record books.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
That would be a 27 percent increase over the record of 11, set by the Big East in 2011 — which sounds more like obliterating the record than merely breaking it.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Rather than obliterating Israel, Gaza became the battlefield, and many innocent Gazans have paid a terrifying price for Hamas' folly.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a trail of destruction.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
This had to be some existential rebuttal to the fire obliterating the Pacific Palisades across town.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Eventually, the ground will subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across, obliterating Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance.
—Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Water raged even higher this time (nearly 8 feet over the top of the spillway) and became a monster, obliterating parts of the neighborhood.
—Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Feb. 2025
After a two-hour rain delay, the game was called, obliterating it from the record books.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
That would be a 27 percent increase over the record of 11, set by the Big East in 2011 — which sounds more like obliterating the record than merely breaking it.
—Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
Rather than obliterating Israel, Gaza became the battlefield, and many innocent Gazans have paid a terrifying price for Hamas' folly.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
Six blazes erupted across LA since Tuesday, obliterating neighborhoods and leaving a trail of destruction.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 13 Jan. 2025
This had to be some existential rebuttal to the fire obliterating the Pacific Palisades across town.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliterating
Verb
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Childhood vaccinations are widely considered effective and safe—eradicating illnesses that once claimed kids’ lives, such as mumps and polio.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
18 Sep. 2025
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What is the 2026 equivalent of eradicating malaria?—
Will McDuffie,
ABC News,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Political observers say those redistricting efforts are yet another way of doubling down on the political divide while erasing the middle.—
Amie Parnes,
The Hill,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The show revolves around three Texas Hill Country ranching family dynasties locked in a contest for control of the land, and their lives and legacies are threatened by outside forces intent on destroying their way of life.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
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The allocation changes regularly, but as of June 2025, according to Business Insider, destroying a tank was worth eight points.—
Tamar Jacoby,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But in August, Putin signed a decree abolishing two presidential departments Kozak supervised, likely in preparation for his departure, the ISW said.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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Whereas opposition parties favored cutting or abolishing it, the ruling coalition of the LDP and Komeito—concerned that such a move would spook financial markets—instead offered one-time cash payments of roughly $140 per person to defray the cost of living.—
Mireya Solís,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Obliterating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliterating. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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