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
Small black ants are generally harmless, but a colony of leafcutter ants can annihilate food crops, and aggressive fire ants build huge mounds and deliver a painful sting when disturbed.
—
Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
This sequence of events used to occur regularly in the US and Central America; screwworm was endemic here but was eradicated after a concerted, decades-long campaign to annihilate its populations.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
In medical imaging, devices such as positron emission tomography scanners, or PET scanners for short, detect radiation produced when particles of antimatter – positrons – annihilate with electrons, which are normal matter.
—Christopher Karwin, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Through smart positioning and tactical moves (plus powers) used at the right times, the goal is to either annihilate or repel the enemy forces.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
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Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
This sequence of events used to occur regularly in the US and Central America; screwworm was endemic here but was eradicated after a concerted, decades-long campaign to annihilate its populations.
—Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 9 June 2026
In medical imaging, devices such as positron emission tomography scanners, or PET scanners for short, detect radiation produced when particles of antimatter – positrons – annihilate with electrons, which are normal matter.
—Christopher Karwin, The Conversation, 8 June 2026
Through smart positioning and tactical moves (plus powers) used at the right times, the goal is to either annihilate or repel the enemy forces.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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