obliterate C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /əˈblɪtəˌreɪt/ UK /əˈblɪtəreɪt/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 verb to destroy utterly or wipe out all trace of The flood obliterated every landmark in the valley. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 verb · to destroy utterly or wipe... destroyannihilateeradicateeraseeffaceexpungeextirpate ↔ Opposites createpreserverestorebuildestablish Word family Derived forms obliterationobliterator Related forms literalletter Etymology AI details From Latin obliteratus, past participle of obliterare ('to blot out, erase'), from ob- plus the phrase littera ('letter'), literally 'to strike out letters'. obliterare Latin littera Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # obliterate **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** verb **IPA (US):** /əˈblɪtəˌreɪt/ **IPA (UK):** /əˈblɪtəreɪt/ ## Meanings 1. to destroy utterly or wipe out all trace of ## Examples - The flood obliterated every landmark in the valley. ## Synonyms - destroy - annihilate - eradicate - erase - efface - expunge - extirpate ## Antonyms - create - preserve - restore - build - establish ## Derived Forms - obliteration - obliterator ## Related Forms - literal - letter ## Roots and Affixes - Root: obliterare - Root: littera ## Etymology From Latin obliteratus, past participle of obliterare ('to blot out, erase'), from ob- plus the phrase littera ('letter'), literally 'to strike out letters'. ## AI Etymology Obliterate is from Latin obliteratus, past participle of obliterare ('to blot out, erase'), from ob- plus the phrase littera ('letter'), literally 'to strike out letters'. Important recorded forms include obliterare (Latin) and littera (Latin). Morphologically, the word is a built form whose named elements carry part of the historical sense. The current sense covers to destroy utterly or wipe out all trace of. The wider family includes derived forms such as obliteration and obliterator and related words such as literal and letter. ## Topics - Actions & Processes - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown