Oblivionists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of individuals who advocate for the complete erasure or cessation of certain memories or experiences
2. Activists who promote the idea of forgetting past events to alleviate emotional suffering or trauma
3. People who support the notion of obliterating memories as a means of achieving liberation from painful recollections

Etymology: "Oblivionists" is the plural of "oblivionist," a noun formed by adding the suffix "-ist" (denoting a follower or advocate) to "oblivion." The base word "oblivion" comes from Latin "oblivio," meaning forgetfulness or a being forgotten, derived from "oblivisci," "to forget." It reached English through Old French "oblivion" and has meant the state of being forgotten, or the condition of having no memory, since well before modern times. The "-ist" ending is what gives the term its particular sense. Words built this way, such as "royalist" or "pacifist," name a person who supports a cause, and "oblivionist" applies that pattern to forgetting itself. It is a rare, mostly literary coinage, and the plural form simply groups together several such advocates. The meaning is transparent from its parts, so the word needs little more explanation than its suffix.

Synonyms: forgetters, neglecters

Antonyms: rememberers, preservers