What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
obliterate
Example
The hurricane obliterated the entire town, leaving nothing standing. [obliterated: past tense]
Example
The new policy will obliterate all traces of the old system. [obliterate: verb]
annihilate
Example
The asteroid impact annihilated the dinosaurs, causing their extinction. [annihilated: past tense]
Example
The army was able to annihilate the enemy forces in a single battle. [annihilate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Obliterate is more commonly used than annihilate in everyday language. Obliterate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while annihilate is less common and has a more specific usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between obliterate and annihilate?
Both obliterate and annihilate are formal words with a negative connotation. However, annihilate is more intense and aggressive, making it less appropriate for formal contexts.
