obliteration

noun

Definition of obliterationnext
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the ill-advised obliteration of the town's historic district in order to make way for a shopping center

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obliteration That era feels a million years away for many reasons, including the complete obliteration of the moviemaking landscape. — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026 In 1880, a local history of Pickaway County expressed regret over the obliteration of its earthworks. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Kusama’s talk of self-obliteration sounds vaguely Buddhist or Taoist. — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 The rooms were part of Kusama’s ongoing exploration of self-obliteration and her career-long ambition to create work that provokes a keen awareness of both one’s individual insignificance and place in the wider cosmic system. — Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 The theme of self-obliteration carried over into a 1968 film by Kusama of the same title, in which polka dots flowed out of her paintings and onto people’s bodies. — News Desk, Artforum, 27 Aug. 2026 There was Kyle Harrison’s revenge game and Logan Webb’s first true gem of the season; the 19-run outburst and the seven-homer barrage; the walk-off losses and the 14-run obliteration; the introduction of third base coach Gary Pettis and the shocking promotion of outfielder Jonah Cox. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026 This was an obliteration, of a player one year his senior. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 3 June 2026 Visitors are stunned seeing the rampant, deliberate obliteration of the character of Hillcrest. — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obliteration
  1. destruction
  2. devastation
  3. havoc
  4. extinction
  5. loss
  6. demolition
Noun
  • About 90% of the city was flooded ​following the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam, according to the White House.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The suspect, 27-year-old Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano of Stafford, Virginia, has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage, and felony injury to a monument, court records show.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • The magnitude of the devastation is made personal for all of us.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The painting is named after a Paul Celan poem about the losses and devastation of the Holocaust.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • Lignel began conversations with the gallery in 2008 as a recession wrought havoc upon the New York art market and the global economy.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Lucas Calderon, owner of Holy Crab, a Coral Gables seafood business that specializes in stone crab home delivery, recalls the havoc Milton wrought on the industry.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Recently, Bezos’ Earth Fund committed $100 million to a new environmental alliance looking to save endangered species from extinction.
    — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Oct. 2026
  • A week ago, another study in the journal Nature by the IUCN found that nearly 44% of reef-building coral species face an elevated risk of extinction due to climate change.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of extinction
Noun
  • Fifth-year cornerback Jaden Mickey made some big stops, including a pass breakup, while the defensive front produced four sacks for 37 yards and seven tackles for loss.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • After scoring just four points on six field-goal attempts in Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons, Adebayo was much more aggressive in looking for his own offense on Saturday.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of loss
Noun
  • By Friday afternoon, Israeli forces had started demolitions in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron.
    — Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Despite the job cuts, threats of land reduction, talks of privatization and even demolition within some parks, Indigenous groups and park partners have persevered.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of demolition

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Cite this Entry

“Obliteration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obliteration. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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