v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Obliterated p. pr. & vb. n. Obliterating. ] [ L. obliteratus, p. p. of obliterare to obliterate; ob (see Ob-) + litera, littera, letter. See Letter. ] 1. To erase or blot out; to efface; to render undecipherable, as a writing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To wear out; to remove or destroy utterly by any means; to render imperceptible; as, to obliterate ideas; to obliterate the monuments of antiquity. [ 1913 Webster ]

The harsh and bitter feelings of this or that experience are slowly obliterated. W. Black. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Scarcely distinct; -- applied to the markings of insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. destroyed so thoroughly as to be unrecognizable or imperceptible.
Syn. -- wiped out, obliterate. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

2. made illegible or imperceptible by erasing or abrading away; -- of writing or surface designs on objects.
Syn. -- blotted out, obliterated. [ PJC ]

adj. making undecipherable or imperceptible; as, obliterating mists.
Syn. -- obscurant. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. obliteratio: cf. F. oblitération. ] The act of obliterating, or the state of being obliterated; extinction. Sir. M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Tending or serving to obliterate. [ 1913 Webster ]