obliteration

IPA/əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃn/
KK[əblˌɪtɚˈeʃən]IPA/əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃn/

obliteration — noun

1. the act of destroying something so completely that no sign or trace of it remain

1.nounC1
Definition

the act of destroying something so completely that no sign or trace of it remains

Example

The wildfire caused the obliteration of the town of Jasper, leaving only ash and rubble.

cause + the obliteration of [place]

Ryo opened the paper and read about the obliteration of a temple in the earthquake.

Common collocations
  • the obliteration of [something]
  • complete obliteration
  • total obliteration
  • gradual obliteration
  • near obliteration
  • face obliteration
  • result in obliteration
  • lead to obliteration
  • threaten obliteration
  • escape obliteration
Synonyms
  • annihilation

    stronger emphasis on total killing or destruction of a group or army; more common in military contexts

  • eradication

    focuses on removing every instance of something, especially diseases or unwanted species

  • extinction

    describes the dying out of an entire type or species, rather than a deliberate act of destruction

  • demolition

    less formal; refers specifically to deliberate destruction of buildings or structures

Antonyms
  • preservation

    the act of keeping something in its original state or condition

  • construction

    building something up, the opposite of destroying

  • restoration

    the process of repairing or returning something to its former condition

Grammar Patterns

the obliteration of [something]

Usage Note

Strong, formal noun; usually uncountable and used in the pattern 'the obliteration of [something]'. Can describe literal physical destruction or figurative erasure of records, memories, or cultural features.

Common Mistakes

The storm caused the obliteration of the shed roof.' (shed roof damage is not total erasure)
The storm caused the obliteration of the entire village.
'obliteration' implies that nothing is left, not just partial damage.
The company faced obliteration of its profits.' (financial losses are not physical erasure)
The bombing led to the obliteration of the city's main bridge.
use 'obliteration' for physical or tangible things that can be completely wiped out.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a state in which something no longer exists, but they differ in scope, typical context, and connotation. 'Annihilation' most often refers to the total destruction of a group of people or an army on a battlefield, carrying a strong connotation of violence. 'Eradication' is the systematic removal of every single instance of something, such as a disease (smallpox eradication) or an invasive weed — it implies effort and planning. 'Extinction' describes the final dying out of an entire species or category, with no possibility of return; it is usually a natural or gradual process rather than a deliberate act. 'Obliteration' focuses on the removal of all physical traces: after a bomb blast, a building is obliterated; after a forest fire, the landscape is obliterated. For example: 'The village faced annihilation by the invading army' (people killed), but 'The village faced obliteration by the volcanic ash' (buildings buried, traces lost).

annihilation ↗eradication ↗extinction ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Obliteration comes from Latin 'obliterare', meaning 'to strike out, erase, cause to be forgotten'. This word was formed from 'ob-' (against) and 'littera' (letter), because in ancient Rome, erasing a written letter or passage was the original meaning. Over time, the sense expanded from erasing ink on a page to destroying anything so thoroughly that no trace remains.