What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
erased
Example
I erased the whiteboard after the meeting. [erased: past tense]
Example
She erased her pencil marks and started over. [erased: verb]
Example
The computer program automatically erased all the data. [erased: past participle]
obliterated
Example
The bomb completely obliterated the building. [obliterated: past tense]
Example
The hurricane obliterated the entire town. [obliterated: verb]
Example
He tried to obliterate the painful memories from his mind. [obliterate: present tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Erased is more commonly used in everyday language, while obliterated is less common and more formal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between erased and obliterated?
Obliterated is more formal than erased and is typically used in more serious or dramatic contexts, such as describing the destruction of a building or the wiping out of a memory.
