Obliterate
verb
To destroy something completely so it does not exist.
The whole village was obliterated by the hurricane.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a city
- obliterate an enemy
verb
To blot out or rub out something, such as writing or marks.
He grabbed a cloth to obliterate the chalk marks on the board.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a mark
- obliterate graffiti
verb
To make something forgotten or not noticed.
The revelation of his dishonesty obliterated all of his previous accomplishments from her mind.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a memory
- obliterate the truth
verb
To destroy something completely so it does not exist.
The whole village was obliterated by the hurricane.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a city
- obliterate an enemy
verb
To blot out or rub out something, such as writing or marks.
He grabbed a cloth to obliterate the chalk marks on the board.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a mark
- obliterate graffiti
verb
To make something forgotten or not noticed.
The revelation of his dishonesty obliterated all of his previous accomplishments from her mind.
Often appears as...
- obliterate a memory
- obliterate the truth
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Total Destruction
Use 'obliterate' to describe something destroyed beyond recognition or repair.
The firework factory was obliterated in the explosion.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Intensity
'Obliterate' can be hyperbolic, emphasizing the extreme effect of an action.
The new legislation could obliterate years of progress in environmental policy.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity in Conflict
Often used in contexts of war and conflict to describe total defeat.
The insurgents' camp was obliterated by a surprise drone strike.
Pro Tip 1/3Total Destruction
Use 'obliterate' to describe something destroyed beyond recognition or repair.
The firework factory was obliterated in the explosion.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Intensity
'Obliterate' can be hyperbolic, emphasizing the extreme effect of an action.
The new legislation could obliterate years of progress in environmental policy.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity in Conflict
Often used in contexts of war and conflict to describe total defeat.
The insurgents' camp was obliterated by a surprise drone strike.
Pro Tip 1/3Total Destruction
Use 'obliterate' to describe something destroyed beyond recognition or repair.
The firework factory was obliterated in the explosion.
Pro Tip 2/3Hyperbolic Intensity
'Obliterate' can be hyperbolic, emphasizing the extreme effect of an action.
The new legislation could obliterate years of progress in environmental policy.
Pro Tip 3/3Intensity in Conflict
Often used in contexts of war and conflict to describe total defeat.
The insurgents' camp was obliterated by a surprise drone strike.
Compare with
annihilatordemolishdestroyeliminatoreraseexpungeexterminateextirpatewipe out
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Video examples
Let's try emotional...
I am going to tell you how I do it, and the most important thing I've learned. So I go on television. I debate people who literally want to obliterate everything I believe in -- in some cases, who don't want me and people like me to even exist. It's sort of like Thanksgiving with your conservative uncle on steroids,
Video examples
Attenborough Finds a...
was used during the war to camouflage gun sights and bomb dumps you can paint a building the colour of its surroundings but it will still be obvious for it casts a telltale shadow the way to obliterate the shadow is to put a drape round the sides and this is
Video examples
How we can turn the tide...
We are gaining momentum and soon, we will be gaining on the crisis. But it is essential that everyone join -- of every political persuasion, every ideological persuasion, every nationality, every division has to be obliterated, so that we, humanity,
Video examples
Why Can't We See...
It's just sitting there ready to obliterate anything that becomes a threat. Or maybe they're not that intelligent. Or perhaps, the evolution of an intelligence capable of creating sophisticated technology is far rarer than we've assumed. After all,
Video examples
Your kids might live on...
A single, large asteroid could take us out forever. To survive we have to reach beyond the home planet. Think what a tragedy it would be if all that humans have accomplished were suddenly obliterated. And there's another reason we should
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
It's just sitting there ready to obliterate anything that becomes a threat. Or maybe they're not that intelligent, or perhaps the evolution of an intelligence capable of creating sophisticated technology is far rarer than we've assumed.
Video examples
What It's Like to Be a...
I killed three people. Two of them were obliterated into pieces. And one of them, watched him bleed out and then watched an infrared become the same color as the ground that he died on.
Video examples
The dark history of the...
once declared, “If we are ever to have peace and annexation the first thing to do is obliterate the past.” They failed at this goal. Queen Lili’uokalani left a resilient
Video examples
Anil Seth: How your...
which basically obliterated his ability to lay down new autobiographical memories. He lost his hippocampus, which is a brain region very important for this function.
Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
quietly so repeat these stereotypes aggressively obliterate the old ones because these are stereotypes worth spreading okay I couldn't help myself
Video examples
Let's try emotional...
I am going to tell you how I do it, and the most important thing I've learned. So I go on television. I debate people who literally want to obliterate everything I believe in -- in some cases, who don't want me and people like me to even exist. It's sort of like Thanksgiving with your conservative uncle on steroids,
Video examples
Attenborough Finds a...
was used during the war to camouflage gun sights and bomb dumps you can paint a building the colour of its surroundings but it will still be obvious for it casts a telltale shadow the way to obliterate the shadow is to put a drape round the sides and this is
Video examples
How we can turn the tide...
We are gaining momentum and soon, we will be gaining on the crisis. But it is essential that everyone join -- of every political persuasion, every ideological persuasion, every nationality, every division has to be obliterated, so that we, humanity,
Video examples
Why Can't We See...
It's just sitting there ready to obliterate anything that becomes a threat. Or maybe they're not that intelligent. Or perhaps, the evolution of an intelligence capable of creating sophisticated technology is far rarer than we've assumed. After all,
Video examples
Your kids might live on...
A single, large asteroid could take us out forever. To survive we have to reach beyond the home planet. Think what a tragedy it would be if all that humans have accomplished were suddenly obliterated. And there's another reason we should
Video examples
Questions No One Knows...
It's just sitting there ready to obliterate anything that becomes a threat. Or maybe they're not that intelligent, or perhaps the evolution of an intelligence capable of creating sophisticated technology is far rarer than we've assumed.
Video examples
What It's Like to Be a...
I killed three people. Two of them were obliterated into pieces. And one of them, watched him bleed out and then watched an infrared become the same color as the ground that he died on.
Video examples
The dark history of the...
once declared, “If we are ever to have peace and annexation the first thing to do is obliterate the past.” They failed at this goal. Queen Lili’uokalani left a resilient
Video examples
Anil Seth: How your...
which basically obliterated his ability to lay down new autobiographical memories. He lost his hippocampus, which is a brain region very important for this function.
Video examples
How to make jokes at a...
quietly so repeat these stereotypes aggressively obliterate the old ones because these are stereotypes worth spreading okay I couldn't help myself
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Cindy Sherman
American Photographer
Quite often, I will do something and think, 'Oh, no, she looks a little too much like me.' I have tried to learn not to be afraid of that when that happens. I am not trying to obliterate myself and completely hide within the images like I used to.
Quote examples
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese Artist
Certainly, I devote my energy to both telling my personal life story and seeking self- obliteration. However, I will not destroy myself through art.
Quote examples
Roger Ebert
American Critic
To die is one thing. How much worse to know that all the life that ever existed on this planet, and all it ever achieved, was to be obliterated?
Quote examples
Daniel H. Pink
American Author
There's an idea out there that salespeople have actually been obliterated by the Internet, which is just not supported by the facts.
Quote examples
Robert Jay Lifton
American Psychologist
Every adult in the world has some sense that he or she might be obliterated at any time by these weapons that we have created.
Quote examples
Marcel Pagnol
French Dramatist
Such is the life of a man. Moments of joy, obliterated by unforgettable sadness. There's no need to tell the children that.
Quote examples
John Keats
English Poet
With a great poet the sense of Beauty overcomes every other consideration, or rather obliterates all consideration.
Quote examples
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
American Politician
Hamas says in its charter they want to see a world without Israel. They want to obliterate Israel.
Quote examples
Barry Manilow
American Musician
I am a musician. My passion for music has obliterated everything in its path for my entire life.
Quote examples
Jacques Delors
French Economist
The European model is in danger if we obliterate the principle of personal responsibility.
Quote examples
Cindy Sherman
American Photographer
Quite often, I will do something and think, 'Oh, no, she looks a little too much like me.' I have tried to learn not to be afraid of that when that happens. I am not trying to obliterate myself and completely hide within the images like I used to.
Quote examples
Yayoi Kusama
Japanese Artist
Certainly, I devote my energy to both telling my personal life story and seeking self- obliteration. However, I will not destroy myself through art.
Quote examples
Roger Ebert
American Critic
To die is one thing. How much worse to know that all the life that ever existed on this planet, and all it ever achieved, was to be obliterated?
Quote examples
Daniel H. Pink
American Author
There's an idea out there that salespeople have actually been obliterated by the Internet, which is just not supported by the facts.
Quote examples
Robert Jay Lifton
American Psychologist
Every adult in the world has some sense that he or she might be obliterated at any time by these weapons that we have created.
Quote examples
Marcel Pagnol
French Dramatist
Such is the life of a man. Moments of joy, obliterated by unforgettable sadness. There's no need to tell the children that.
Quote examples
John Keats
English Poet
With a great poet the sense of Beauty overcomes every other consideration, or rather obliterates all consideration.
Quote examples
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
American Politician
Hamas says in its charter they want to see a world without Israel. They want to obliterate Israel.
Quote examples
Barry Manilow
American Musician
I am a musician. My passion for music has obliterated everything in its path for my entire life.
Quote examples
Jacques Delors
French Economist
The European model is in danger if we obliterate the principle of personal responsibility.
Example 1 of 10
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