obliterate
Meaning: To destroy utterly, leaving no trace; to remove all signs of something completely.
Obliterate conveys total and thorough destruction — stronger than 'destroy' or 'eliminate.' It can be used literally (obliterating a building) or figuratively (obliterating a memory or distinction). In medicine, obliteration refers to the complete closure or destruction of a body cavity or vessel. The noun form is 'obliteration.'
Examples
- The bombing raid obliterated entire neighbourhoods during the war. 战争中的轰炸将整个街区夷为平地。El bombardeo arrasó barrios enteros durante la guerra.戦時中の空爆は街区全体を壊滅させた。전시 중 폭격으로 인해 도시의 구역 전체가 완전히 파괴되었다.
- Years of neglect had obliterated almost all traces of the original garden. 多年的疏于管理几乎抹去了原始花园的所有痕迹。Años de abandono habían borrado casi todos los vestigios del jardín original.長年の放置により、元の庭園の痕跡はほぼすべて消え去っていた。수년간의 방치로 인해 원래 정원의 흔적이 거의 모두 사라져 버렸다.
- The team obliterated the previous record by a margin of fifteen seconds. 该队以十五秒的差距彻底打破了此前的纪录。El equipo pulverizó el récord anterior por un margen de quince segundos.そのチームは15秒差で従来の記録を完全に塗り替えた。그 팀은 15초 차이로 기존 기록을 완전히 갈아치웠다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, media
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin obliterare (to erase, cause to disappear), from ob- (against) + littera (letter). Originally meant to erase writing, then broadened to mean total destruction.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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