What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
eliminate
Example
We need to eliminate all sources of contamination in the food processing plant. [eliminate: verb]
Example
The new software will help us eliminate the need for manual data entry. [eliminate: verb]
obliterate
Example
The hurricane obliterated the small coastal town, leaving nothing but rubble. [obliterated: past tense]
Example
The company's reputation was obliterated by the scandal. [obliterated: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Eliminate is more common and versatile than obliterate in everyday language. Eliminate can be used in various contexts, from removing obstacles to reducing waste, while obliterate is typically reserved for extreme cases of destruction or annihilation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between eliminate and obliterate?
Obliterate is more formal and less commonly used than eliminate. It is often used in academic or technical writing to describe the complete destruction of something, while eliminate can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
