Obliterate

To obliterate means to completely destroy or wipe out something, leaving no trace or memory of its existence. This act can apply to physical objects, ideas, or even feelings. It implies a thorough and decisive erasure, removing something from existence. The process often involves a forceful or comprehensive action, leaving nothing behind. It suggests a sense of finality and the inability to reconstruct or recover what has been eliminated. Obliteration can occur through various means, from physical destruction to the fading of memory over time.

Obliterate meaning with examples

• The devastating earthquake threatened to obliterate the small coastal village. Entire buildings crumbled into dust, leaving the survivors with nothing but a struggle to start again. The storm surge rushed through the town and would obliterate what was left and claim lives.
• Years of war and conflict have unfortunately managed to obliterate cultural heritage. The old city's library held priceless books, and their destruction obliterated a wealth of knowledge, leaving a cultural vacuum.
• The dictator's censorship campaign sought to obliterate any opposition. He silenced voices and censored media, attempting to obliterate any dissent and create a unified narrative of his choosing, destroying truth.
• The artist carefully used a thick layer of paint to obliterate his earlier work, hoping to improve his image, and starting again with a fresh canvas to create a new masterpiece. His original image was gone for good.
• Time can sometimes obliterate memories, though in a different manner. The joys and griefs of childhood often fade, and memories of these events are left only as a foggy shadow. The impact of things gone long ago may lose its clarity, though, and be forever lost.