completely obliterated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'completely obliterated' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has been or will be totally destroyed or eliminated. For example: "The once-thriving village was completely obliterated by the flood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I was completely obliterated," he says.

The New York Times - Magazine

Morsi had completely obliterated the thing.

The New Yorker

Photography here is nearly completely obliterated by punkish gesturalism.

The New York Times - Arts

But creativity does not have to be completely obliterated.

The New York Times

But the dignity code itself has been completely obliterated.

The New York Times

The yolk sac forms, but is later completely obliterated.

The Guardian

In rare cases the plagioclase may be almost completely obliterated by the quartz intergrowths.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The infrastructure of some departments in Sony has been completely obliterated.

The Guardian - Film

Soon after returning home with Ferdie, she finds her Pathfinder town is completely obliterated.

The Guardian

After-school programs, art and music classes and sports programs were almost completely obliterated.

The New York Times

Unless these lesions are completely obliterated as documented by an angiogram, they can recur and continue to cause symptoms.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely obliterated", ensure the context clearly indicates total destruction or removal, leaving no trace or possibility of recovery. For instance, "The evidence was completely obliterated" suggests thorough removal beyond any hope of retrieval.

Common error

Avoid using "completely obliterated" in situations where the degree of destruction is not absolute. Overusing strong language can dilute its impact. For example, instead of saying "My doubts were completely obliterated", consider "My doubts were significantly reduced" if the doubts were not entirely eliminated.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely obliterated" functions as a modifier intensifying the verb. It describes the extent to which something has been destroyed or removed. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and usability, highlighting its effectiveness in conveying thorough destruction, as seen in the provided examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "completely obliterated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote total destruction or elimination. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedia entries. The phrase effectively conveys that something has been destroyed to the point of non-existence, emphasizing the thoroughness of the action. While alternatives like "utterly destroyed" or "totally annihilated" exist, "completely obliterated" provides a strong and vivid depiction of irreversible destruction. It's important to ensure that the context aligns with the severity of the phrase to avoid overstatement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly destroyed

Replaces "obliterated" with "destroyed" and "completely" with "utterly", emphasizing the thoroughness of destruction.

totally annihilated

Uses "annihilated" instead of "obliterated", implying complete destruction to the point of non-existence, and "totally" instead of "completely".

entirely wiped out

Employs the phrasal verb "wiped out" which suggests a sweeping removal or destruction, and "entirely" instead of "completely".

fully eradicated

Replaces "obliterated" with "eradicated", suggesting complete removal or elimination, especially of something undesirable.

absolutely demolished

Uses "demolished" in place of "obliterated", conveying a sense of utter ruin or destruction, and "absolutely" instead of "completely".

thoroughly razed

Replaces "obliterated" with "razed", suggesting complete destruction of a structure or area, leveling it to the ground.

vanished completely

This alternative uses "vanished" which conveys something disappearing entirely, while "completely" remains.

eliminated entirely

This expression substitutes "obliterated" with "eliminated", signifying the complete removal, and "entirely" instead of "completely".

reduced to nothing

This idiom indicates a state of complete destruction or loss, where something is brought down to absolute zero.

made extinct entirely

This alternative replaces "obliterated" with "made extinct", implying total eradication, particularly of a species or concept, and "entirely" instead of "completely".

FAQs

How can I use "completely obliterated" in a sentence?

You can use "completely obliterated" to describe something that has been totally destroyed or eliminated. For example, "The hurricane completely obliterated the coastal town" or "His chances of winning were completely obliterated after the first round".

What are some alternatives to "completely obliterated"?

Alternatives include "utterly destroyed", "totally annihilated", or "entirely wiped out". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "completely obliterated"?

While "obliterated" already implies thorough destruction, using "completely" emphasizes the totality of the destruction, leaving no room for ambiguity. Its use is stylistic and depends on the desired emphasis.

What's the difference between "completely obliterated" and "partially destroyed"?

"Completely obliterated" indicates that something is totally destroyed, leaving no remnants. In contrast, "partially destroyed" suggests that something is damaged but still exists in some form. The phrase "partially destroyed" suggests the contrary of the phrase.