obliteration

UK: /əˌblɪtəˈreɪʃən/ US: (ə blit′ə rā′shən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•lit•er•a•tion  (ə blit′ə rā′shən), n. 

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.

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

ob•lit•er•a•tive  (ə blit′ə rā′tiv, -ər ə tiv), adj. 

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•lit•er•ate /əˈblɪtəˌreɪt/   v. [~ + object] , -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to remove or destroy all traces of:
   The bombardment obliterated the village.
2. to make (something) impossible to read or decipher;
   blot out;
   efface.

ob•lit•er•a•tion, n. [uncountable]
ob•lit•er•a•tor, n. [countable] See -lit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ob•lit•er•ate  (ə blit′ə rāt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to remove or destroy all traces of; do away with;
   destroy completely.
2. 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

ob•lit•er•a•ble  (ə blit′ər ə bəl), adj.  o•blit′er•a′tor, n. 
Synonyms

• 2. expunge. See cancel.