obliterate

[ uh-blit-uh-reyt ]
/ əˈblɪt əˌreɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR obliterate ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), ob·lit·er·at·ed, ob·lit·er·at·ing.

to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with; destroy completely.
to blot out or render undecipherable (writing, marks, etc.); efface.

Origin of obliterate

1590–1600; < Latin oblitterātus (past participle of oblitterāre, efface, cause to be forgotten), equivalent to ob- ob- + litter(a) letter1 + -ātus -ate1

synonym study for obliterate

2. See cancel.

OTHER WORDS FROM obliterate

ob·lit·er·a·ble [uh-blit-er-uh-buhl] /əˈblɪt ər ə bəl/, adjective o·blit·er·a·tor, noun half-ob·lit·er·at·ed, adjective un·ob·lit·er·at·ed, adjective

Words nearby obliterate

oblique triangle, oblique vein of left atrium, oblique-slip fault, obliquely, obliquity, obliterate, obliterating endarteritis, obliteration, obliterative bronchitis, oblivescence, oblivion

Words related to obliterate

annihilate, expunge, exterminate, ravage, erase, eliminate, smash, obscure, eradicate, scratch, kill, extirpate, cancel, ax, total, zap, cut, waste, efface, finish

Example sentences from the Web for obliterate

British Dictionary definitions for obliterate

obliterate
/ (əˈblɪtəˌreɪt) /

verb

(tr) to destroy every trace of; wipe out completely

Derived forms of obliterate

obliteration, noun obliterative, adjective obliterator, noun

Word Origin for obliterate

C16: from Latin oblitterāre to erase, from ob- out + littera letter

Medical definitions for obliterate

obliterate
[ ə-blĭt′ə-rāt′, ō-blĭt′- ]

v.

To remove an organ or another body part completely, as by surgery, disease, or radiation.
To blot out, especially through filling of a natural space by fibrosis or inflammation.

Other words from obliterate

o•blit′er•a′tion n.