obliteration

American  

[uh-blit-uh-rey-shuhn] / əˌblɪt əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act of obliterating or the state of being obliterated.

2. Pathology, Surgery. the removal of a part as a result of disease or surgery.

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Other Word Forms

• obliterative
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of obliteration

1650–60; < Latin oblitterātiōn- (stem of oblitterātiō ), equivalent to oblitterāt ( us ) ( see obliterate) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

Obliteration is the total destruction of something, so that nothing remains of it. Holding a lit match up to a balloon might cause its obliteration. The noun obliteration can describe a literal destruction, like an explosion or terrible fire, but it's also frequently used to mean a more figurative kind of eradication. You might, for example, hear people on the news talk about the obliteration of democracy in a country, or the obliteration of a politician's candidacy after a scandal is revealed. The word comes from the Latin obliterare, "cause to disappear, blot out, or erase."

Example Sentences

"Operation Midnight Hammer was a complete and total obliteration of the Nuclear Dust sites in Iran," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, adding: "Therefore, digging it out will be a long and difficult process."

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

From obliteration to a viable threat in months.

From Salon • Mar. 6, 2026

These newcomers, however, have no stake in the comradely game’s continuation, and are in fact dedicated to its obliteration: They want to take the game’s money away.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2025

And an obliteration of this magnitude required a perfect storm of factors that few would have predicted several days ahead of time.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2025

Reston was once a country town, and its rural past still fights obliteration, like a nail that won’t stay hammered down.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston