Word
obliterated
Phoneticsoblit·er·at·ed
US/əˈbɫɪtɝˌeɪtɪd/
UK/əblˈɪtəɹˌeɪtɪd/
Definition
adj. completely destroyed or wiped out so that nothing remains. In casual conversation, it can also mean being extremely drunk or tired.
adj. having been utterly destroyed, erased, or made invisible. Often functions as a participial adjective describing a state of total elimination or, in informal contexts, extreme intoxication.
Examples
“The old building was obliterated by the explosion.”
“Heavy snow obliterated the mountain trail, making it impossible for the hikers to find their way back.”
“The ancient inscriptions had been so thoroughly obliterated by centuries of wind and sand that the archaeologists could only guess at the original text.”
Examples
simple
“The old building was obliterated by the explosion.”
contextual
“Heavy snow obliterated the mountain trail, making it impossible for the hikers to find their way back.”
complex
“The ancient inscriptions had been so thoroughly obliterated by centuries of wind and sand that the archaeologists could only guess at the original text.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb like 'be', 'become', or 'look'.
Real-World Examples
“Here the visitor was able to experience the artist’s most potent metaphor for the endlessness of the cosmos, a universe in which the individual’s identity is perpetually obliterated.” “He spent the early weeks of 2025 obliterated by the illness.” Etymology
From obliterate + -ed (suffix forming adjectives; and past tenses and past participles of regular verbs).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/obliterated