to wipe out
347
4.2
- phrasal verb
- /waɪp aʊt/
- The wildfire threatened to wipe out the entire forest if firefighters couldn't control it.
- wipe out populations
- wipe out species
- wipe out millions
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Watch on YouTubeBut I mean, it's going to wipe out entire industries.
- But I mean, it's going to wipe out entire industries.
- The people who claimed to be Aztec were wiped out or or enslaved.
- If we get AI engineering wrong, could it wipe out all of humanity?
- That's the sort of thing it might take to wipe out a well established habit.
- I think part of the the impact of the tsunami was just to wipe out entire villages.
- Or they could just pull the dividend, just wipe it out completely.
- The arts, film, music could all be wiped out.
Examples
-
Two days later, the entire town was wiped out by a gale force hurricane.
-
So we are trying to wipe out this virus completely.
-
But I mean, it's going to wipe out entire industries.
-
If we get AI engineering wrong, could it wipe out all of humanity?
-
The shutdown could wipe out an entire quarter of GDP growth.
-
The indigenous populations of the peninsula were largely wiped out by disease from the Spanish.
Academic text (1999) -
For example, heavy hail can wipe out a crop of wheat and other grains.
Academic text (1996) -
The economic downturn could wipe out many small businesses struggling to stay afloat.
-
Experts warn that unchecked pollution may wipe out several species of fish in the river.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Damage something so badly that it cannot be used or fixed
∞
1.9
To remove something from a place or container
∞
1.6
To remove or throw away something you do not want
769
3.4
Remove or kill something completely so it is gone
508
6.6
Gradually use up money or fuel
370
2.0
To remove information like text or files so it cannot be seen
355
2.2
Remove all traces of something from memory or history
213
1.0
To remove everything from a container or place
210
1.0
To empty something completely
194
3.1
Remove all things from a place so it becomes empty
185
3.2
Empty a place or container by removing everything inside
111
3.2
To use up resources until none are left
107
2.7
To finish all of something so nothing is left
89
3.7
Remove something so it is no longer used
84
6.6
Remove something harmful completely, for example a disease or pest
82
4.8
Destroy almost all members of a group, like a type of animal or product
67
7.5
To destroy something completely so nothing remains
63
3.7
To use up all of a supply or resource
62
6.3
To remove unwanted substances, things, or people by cleaning
61
6.9
To destroy something completely, often on purpose
58
7.5
To destroy completely, often killing many people
47
5.0
To use money, time, or energy for a purpose
46
3.6
To erase all data on a computer or phone so it cannot be recovered
41
6.3
To use up almost all of something so little is left
31
3.1
Use up money or time quickly
25
1.8
To take things away from a place to make it tidy
24
7.7
Put an end to something or to someone's life
24
3.0
Remove things from a surface to make it empty or clean
22
8.8
To remove all signs of something like a record or memory so it cannot be found
12
7.7
Kill an entire group of people or animals so none are left
7
4.9
To remove stored information from a device
5
4.4
Use up money or supplies quickly and wastefully
2
9.9
To destroy something completely, including its root
1
8.2
To kill many people or animals
To destroy or carry something away completely, for example by water
Antonyms
How Destroyed
- NSFW
58
7.5
67
7.5
347
4.2
∞
1.0
∞
2.0
323
1.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
wipe + out
The meaning 'to completely destroy or eliminate' is directly derivable from 'wipe' (to remove/erase) combined with the particle 'out' which conveys completion or total removal; verb + particle constructions like this routinely signal thoroughness in English. A B1 learner who knows both constituents would very likely infer the MWE's meaning without prior exposure.
Etymology
Wipe out comes from the simple image of wiping a table or board with a cloth until everything is gone. Because wipe plus out gives the idea of removing every last thing, it means 'to destroy completely'.