wipeout

1 of 2

noun

wipe·​out ˈwīp-ˌau̇t How to pronounce wipeout (audio)
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

wipe out

2 of 2

verb

wiped out; wiping out; wipes out

transitive verb

: to destroy completely : annihilate

intransitive verb

: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Selected third overall in the 2020 MLB Draft, Meyer was initially projected by many as a future late-inning reliever due to his size and two-pitch repertoire, which included a wipeout slider and an above-average fastball — tools traditionally suited for a bullpen role. Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2025 President Trump's taunting and tariffs have turned Canadians against the U.S., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau into a fire-breathing nationalist, and his Liberal Party — once on track for an electoral wipeout — back into a force to be reckoned with. Dave Lawler, Axios, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
Because banana plants are propagated asexually via rhizome cuttings rather than seeds, entire plantations can be wiped out in a single outbreak, with no genetic bulwark to slow or prevent the pathogen’s advance. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025 In Nigeria alone, more than 3.2 million acres of tree cover have disappeared since 2000 in a global deforestation crisis that has wiped out nearly 1.2 billion acres in two decades. Ogar Monday, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for wipeout

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wipeout was in 1535

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Wipeout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wipeout. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

wipeout

1 of 2 noun
wipe·​out ˈwīp-ˌau̇t How to pronounce wipeout (audio)
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 verb
1
: to destroy completely
crops wiped out by flooding
2
: to fall or crash usually as a result of losing control
the surfer wiped out
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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