Obliterant

An obliterant is a substance or agent that causes the destruction or removal of something, often to the point of complete annihilation or effacement. It operates by erasing, concealing, or destroying the target entity, whether physical, conceptual, or emotional. The effect is typically absolute, leaving no trace or remnant of the original state. Its use implies a deliberate act with the specific intent of complete eradication, rendering the original subject non-existent, imperceptible, or unrecoverable. The impact may vary dependent on the subject it effects.

Obliterant meaning with examples

• The fire was an unrelenting obliterant, consuming everything in its path, leaving behind only ash and the ghosts of structures. It eradicated the village and its history completely, leaving no remnants of its former existence.
• The dictator's regime employed a policy of cultural obliterant, destroying books, artwork, and historical records to rewrite the nation's past and eliminate any dissenting voices.
• The chemical solvent proved to be an effective obliterant for the ink stains, but damaged the antique paper so that it was then completely blank, an ironic side effect of erasing unwanted marks.
• Traumatic memories can sometimes become an emotional obliterant, creating gaps in the mind and blocking the ability to recall specific events, even to those that have been recently experienced.