obliterate
C1/C2Formal, literary, journalistic. Also used in military and technical contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To destroy something completely, leaving no trace; to wipe out.
To cause something to disappear from sight, memory, or existence; to overcome something utterly (e.g., an opponent in a competition).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a thorough, often violent or deliberate, erasure. It can be used literally (physical destruction) or figuratively (memory, hope). It is a more forceful synonym for 'destroy' or 'erase'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Both varieties use the word identically. Spelling is the same.
Connotations
Equally strong and formal in both dialects. Possibly slightly more common in American journalistic/military reporting.
Frequency
Low-frequency, advanced word in both varieties, used in similar contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] obliterate [Object][Subject] obliterate [Object] from [Place/Memory]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Obliterate from the face of the earth”
- “Obliterate from memory”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. 'The new market entrant threatened to obliterate our competitive advantage.'
Academic
Used in history, political science, biology. 'The eruption obliterated all settlements on the island.'
Everyday
Rare, used for emphasis. 'I'm going to obliterate you at tennis.'
Technical
Used in military, computing (data), medicine (tissue). 'The laser was used to obliterate the tumour.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The bombing raid sought to obliterate the enemy's command centre.
- He tried to obliterate all memory of the embarrassing event.
American English
- The hurricane obliterated the coastal town.
- The Patriots completely obliterated their rivals in the championship game.
adverb
British English
- The adverb 'obliteratively' is virtually non-existent in standard usage.
- Not used.
American English
- The word is not used as an adverb in standard English.
- No standard examples.
adjective
British English
- The use of the adjective 'obliterative' is highly technical, e.g., 'obliterative bronchiolitis'.
- Not commonly used.
American English
- The adjective form is rarely used outside medical/technical jargon.
- Example from pathology: 'obliterative vasculopathy'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The heavy rain obliterated our footprints in the sand.
- The new evidence could obliterate the prosecution's entire case.
- The regime attempted to obliterate all historical records of the dissent.
- His name was systematically obliterated from official documents.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a LITER (a unit of volume) being blown to OBLIVION. OBLI(TER)ATE -> send to oblivion, tear apart.
Conceptual Metaphor
ERASURE IS VIOLENCE / EXISTENCE IS A RECORD (to be wiped clean).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'obligate' (обязывать).
- Stronger than 'разрушать' (to destroy); closer to 'стереть с лица земли', 'уничтожить полностью'.
- Not a direct equivalent for 'убирать' (to remove) or 'отменять' (to cancel).
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ɒbˈlaɪtəreɪt/ (wrong stress/vowel).
- Using it for minor damage. *'I obliterated my phone screen' is too strong for a crack.
- Confusing spelling: 'obliterate' not 'obliteriate'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'obliterate' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is frequently used figuratively for abstract concepts like memories, hope, or evidence (e.g., 'obliterate all doubt').
'Obliterate' is stronger and implies complete, often total, erasure where nothing remains. Something destroyed might be ruined but still existent.
Rarely. It typically has negative connotations of violence or loss. A possible positive use might be 'obliterate disease' or 'obliterate debt'.
Yes, 'obliteration' (e.g., 'the obliteration of the village').