wipe·out
ˈwīp-ˌau̇t 
1
: the act or an instance of wiping out : complete or utter destruction
2
: a fall or crash caused usually by losing control
3
: a total or decisive defeat : drubbing
wiped out; wiping out; wipes out
: to destroy completely : annihilate
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
Synonyms
Examples of wipeout in a Sentence
Noun
The surfer had a nasty wipeout.
Verb
he didn't get his gambling under control until he had already wiped out his entire life savings
Recent Examples on the Web
Brandon Harris, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
The largest loser on the Nikkei was Daiwa Securities, which saw an 18.85% wipeout of its market cap.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2024
News Desk, Artforum, 8 Aug. 2024
But that was nothing compared to the $9.1 billion of value that was wiped out via an audit of assets.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wipeout 
Noun
But Rose’s dramatic and brutal home-plate wipeout into Fosse, which was blamed for derailing the catcher’s still productive career, was a nationwide spectacle, and its morality was hotly debated in the days and weeks to come.
—Brandon Harris, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2024
The largest loser on the Nikkei was Daiwa Securities, which saw an 18.85% wipeout of its market cap.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 1 Aug. 2024
Verb
The comet strike is believed to have wiped out many species of large animals, and to have spurred the lifestyle change from hunting and gathering to farming that led to the birth of civilization in the Fertile Crescent of West Asia.
—News Desk, Artforum, 8 Aug. 2024
But that was nothing compared to the $9.1 billion of value that was wiped out via an audit of assets.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wipeout
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wipeout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near wipeout
Cite this Entry
“Wipeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wipeout. Accessed 22 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wipeout
1 of 2 noun
wipe·out
ˈwīp-ˌau̇t
1
: complete destruction
2
: a fall or crash caused usually by losing control
wipeouts on the downhill ski course are common
3
: total or final defeat
couldn't bear to watch the team's wipeout
wipe out
2 of 2 verb1
: to destroy completely
crops wiped out by flooding
2
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
the surfer wiped out
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share