MEANING
To destroy completely or erase the visible traces, identity, or memory of something.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- obliterate a record
- obliterate a boundary
- obliterate all traces
On the page
The flood obliterated the path that once led to the house.
Nearby words
Opposite meanings
Word forms
- Base
- obliterate
- Past tense
- obliterated
- Past participle
- obliterated
- Present participle
- obliterating
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- obliterate
- Present continuous
- am/is/are obliterating
- Present perfect
- have/has obliterated
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been obliterating
- Past
- obliterated
- Past continuous
- was/were obliterating
- Past perfect
- had obliterated
- Past perfect continuous
- had been obliterating
- Future
- will obliterate
- Future continuous
- will be obliterating
- Future perfect
- will have obliterated
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been obliterating
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Can refer to physical destruction or figurative erasure; it is stronger than damage or obscure.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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