Definition

The act of completely destroying or removing something so that it no longer exists.

Example

The obliteration of the old building made way for a new park.

Conversation

Did you hear about the storm last night?

Yeah, it caused a lot of damage around here.

I can't believe the level of obliteration in some areas.

I know! It will take a long time to rebuild everything.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Obliteration is formed from "ob-" (meaning against or over) and "literare" (meaning to write). The word describes the act of writing over something to the point that it is no longer visible or recognizable, effectively erasing it.

Memory Tip

Think of 'writing over' ('literare') something 'against' or 'over' ('ob-') until it disappears — that's what obliteration means.

Visually Confused Words