1
as in to eradicate
to destroy all traces of
the family's attempts to annihilate the roach population in their apartment had met with little success
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
the tornado simply annihilated the family's home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to overcome
to defeat by a large margin
we didn't just win; we absolutely annihilated them!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of annihilate
Bayonne’s most notable movie moment in this century was a brief appearance in Steven Spielberg’s 2005 War of the Worlds (it was annihilated by aliens).
—
Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
Playing in front of a spirited crowd in the frosty air at Cawley Memorial Stadium, Lowell annihilated Haverhill, 49-0, to win its second consecutive Thanksgiving game against the Hillies.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
In theory, a superintelligent AI would pursue its own goals, and if those goals are incompatible with sustaining human life, we will be annihilated.
—Andrea Miotti, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
It's designed to match players of similar skills into game lobbies and create a gameplay experience that doesn't pit new or casual players against hard-core players or pros who will likely annihilate them.
—PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Andrew Rice, Curbed, 2 Dec. 2025
Playing in front of a spirited crowd in the frosty air at Cawley Memorial Stadium, Lowell annihilated Haverhill, 49-0, to win its second consecutive Thanksgiving game against the Hillies.
—Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 27 Nov. 2025
In theory, a superintelligent AI would pursue its own goals, and if those goals are incompatible with sustaining human life, we will be annihilated.
—Andrea Miotti, Time, 29 Oct. 2025
It's designed to match players of similar skills into game lobbies and create a gameplay experience that doesn't pit new or casual players against hard-core players or pros who will likely annihilate them.
—PC Magazine, 18 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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Spider mites create webs and can be eradicated with miticide spray.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Just last week, a professor who taught at Harvard for 40 years slammed the school for its ideological homogeneity after finishing his last semester, saying that graduate programs were denying White male applicants on racial grounds and that Western civilization courses were being eradicated.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the Red Sox destroyed and ended their relationship with their only true power hitter and proven winner for a player who, though an undeniably excellent addition, was here for 117 total games.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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In the Pacific Palisades and nearby Malibu, flames burned for 31 days, scorching 37 square miles and destroying more than 6,000 structures, most of them homes.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Samsung says these structural improvements allow the HP5 to overcome traditional low-light limitations.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Vance’s second biggest battle is overcoming political history, which statistically does not favor incumbent vice presidents’ chances of winning the White House.—
Myra Adams,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Faulkner’s genius doesn’t erase his vices.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
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Disputes also won't erase your legitimate obligations.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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It is designed to mirror the East Wing addition after the previous building was demolished last year.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
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In order to do so, the city has to acquire the land and purchase the properties — valued at $22 million total — and demolish them, causing several businesses to close or relocate to make way for the project.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Medieval Europeans moved to England consistently A press release by the University of Cambridge continued that researchers studied more than 700 chemical signatures from the teeth of people buried in England between AD 400 and 1100.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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He will be cremated, with his ashes buried next to his parents in Joliet, Osborne said.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For the first time, more people now support abolishing the agency than oppose it.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
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Potential amendments could include establishing equal rights for women, abolishing the Electoral College, overturning Citizens United, and banning gerrymandering.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And, from this week’s issue, Nicola Twilley’s reporting on another lingering effect of the wildfires—smoke taint that is ruining grapes and threatening California’s wine industry.—
Dana Goodyear,
New Yorker,
7 Jan. 2026
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This will either change your life or ruin you.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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