- (transitive)
to destroy every trace of; wipe out completely
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ob•lit•er•ate /əˈblɪtəˌreɪt/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object], -at•ed, -at•ing.
ob•lit•er•a•tor, n. [countable]See -lit-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- to remove or destroy all traces of:The bombardment obliterated the village.
- to make (something) impossible to read or decipher;
blot out;
efface.
ob•lit•er•a•tor, n. [countable]See -lit-.
ob•lit•er•ate
(ə blit′ə rāt′),USA pronunciation v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing.
ob•lit•er•a•ble
(ə blit′ər ə bəl),USA pronunciation adj.
o•blit′er•a′tor, n.
- to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with;
destroy completely. - to blot out or render undecipherable (writing, marks, etc.);
efface.
- Latin oblitterātus (past participle of oblitterāre, efface, cause to be forgotten), equivalent. to ob- ob- + litter(a) letter + -ātus -ate1
- 1590–1600
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged expunge. See cancel.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'obliterated' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):