annihilate

verb

an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce annihilate (audio)
annihilated; annihilating

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to cease to exist : to do away with entirely so that nothing remains
b
: to destroy a considerable part of
Bombs annihilated the city.
The enemy troops were annihilated.
c
: to defeat overwhelmingly : rout
annihilated the visitors 56–0
2
a
: to cause to be of no effect : nullify
a right to freedom that cannot be annihilated
b
: to destroy the substance or force of
Fear can annihilate one's confidence.
3
: to regard as of no consequence
4
: to cause (something, such as a particle and its antiparticle) to vanish or cease to exist by coming together and changing into other forms of energy (such as photons)
matter and antimatter annihilate each other

intransitive verb

of a particle and its antiparticle : to vanish or cease to exist by coming together and changing into other forms of energy (such as photons)
annihilatory adjective

Examples of annihilate in a Sentence

The enemy troops were annihilated. He annihilated his opponent in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web There's still that familiar sense of dread that grips an England tour down under since Alastair Cook's 2013 alumni were annihilated. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 This is the YouTube talk show, sort of an anti-food show, where guests—while attempting to answer the eloquent and searching questions of the host, Sean Evans—must work their way through progressively more annihilating levels of hot sauce on a chicken wing. James Parker, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2024 Hundreds of missiles, topped with nuclear warheads, would roll through the tunnels on trains, pop up at firing points and, if needed, respond to Soviet aggression by many annihilating many Eastern Bloc targets. Paul Bierman, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2024 In recent months Tanner has been annihilating many of her press appearances. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for annihilate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'annihilate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin annihilatus, past participle of annihilare to reduce to nothing, from Latin ad- + nihil nothing — more at nil

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of annihilate was in 1525

Dictionary Entries Near annihilate

Cite this Entry

“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

annihilate

verb
an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce annihilate (audio)
annihilated; annihilating
: to destroy completely
annihilation noun
annihilator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on annihilate

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