annihilate
verb
an·ni·hi·late
ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt 
annihilated; annihilating
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
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)
Examples of annihilate in a Sentence
The enemy troops were annihilated.
He annihilated his opponent in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web
Why didn’t the universe annihilate itself moments after the big bang?
—
William Barter, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
But the fire in you to just switch it on and annihilate teams is what sets you apart.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 27 July 2025
However, the antiproton qubit is unlikely to find work in quantum computing because ordinary matter can be used for that more easily without the risk of the antimatter annihilating.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 July 2025
The central working assumption of PEN America and of the State Department—that the liberal American can teach the seriously swarming races what is meant by democracy—has been annihilated.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
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William Barter, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
But the fire in you to just switch it on and annihilate teams is what sets you apart.
—Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 27 July 2025
However, the antiproton qubit is unlikely to find work in quantum computing because ordinary matter can be used for that more easily without the risk of the antimatter annihilating.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 July 2025
The central working assumption of PEN America and of the State Department—that the liberal American can teach the seriously swarming races what is meant by democracy—has been annihilated.
—Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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