obliterate
Translation
to obliterate, to destroy, to wipe out, to annihilate
Examples
The bomb obliterated the entire building.
The bomb obliterated the entire building.
He tried to obliterate the memory from his mind.
He tried to obliterate the memory from his mind.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to destroy (sth.) completely The bomb obliterated the entire building.
Similar Words
Synonyms: destroy, annihilate, eradicate, erase, wipe out
Etymology
From Latin 'obliterare' (to strike out, erase), from 'ob-' (against) + 'littera' (letter). It originally meant to erase writing.
Memory Tips
Imagine 'ob-LITTER-ate' - to turn something into litter, completely destroying it. Or think of its root: erasing letters ('littera') from a page.