Obliterate
Verb
UK
/əˈblɪt.ər.eɪt/
US
/əˈblɪt̬.ə.reɪt/
Level: Easy - A1 (Beginner)
Definition
To destroy completely so that nothing remains.
Example
"The old temple was obliterated during the war and never rebuilt."
"He tried to obliterate the painful memory by avoiding anything that reminded him of it."
"The hurricane obliterated entire towns, leaving only broken trees and empty streets."
Explanation
To obliterate means to completely destroy something so that nothing is left—not even a trace. It’s often used when something is wiped out by force, like a building in an explosion or a memory that someone forgets. Obliteration leaves no sign behind. It can be physical (destroying a city), emotional (erasing feelings), or abstract (removing a belief or idea from someone’s mind).