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
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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
Nearly all of humanity — 12 planets’ worth — is annihilated by the Cylons, an android race created by mankind itself.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The region has been on edge for the past two years as Israel seeks to annihilate the Hamas militant group, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
—Elena Becatoros, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
Some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), are eager to see the U.S. intervene to annihilate Iran’s nuclear program.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The answer is very simple: because Iran is publicly vowing to annihilate another sovereign country — Israel — that has been recognized by the United Nations since 1948.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The region has been on edge for the past two years as Israel seeks to annihilate the Hamas militant group, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
—Elena Becatoros, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
Some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), are eager to see the U.S. intervene to annihilate Iran’s nuclear program.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The answer is very simple: because Iran is publicly vowing to annihilate another sovereign country — Israel — that has been recognized by the United Nations since 1948.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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The species was largely eradicated in Connecticut because of habitat loss and over-trapping by the 1900’s.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
5 Aug. 2025
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Measles, once largely eradicated in the United States, has resurged in unvaccinated communities, with outbreaks reported in states surrounding Wisconsin.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
30 July 2025
Verb
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But when our home was destroyed, our studio lost, and the war displaced us to Khanyounis’s tent camps, cooking became less about flavor and more about survival.—
Hamada Shaqoura,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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There were 25 diesel buses that were destroyed per the grant regulations, Young said.—
Harley Walls,
Arkansas Online,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Padres are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League west.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Whether they’re equipped to overcome them is a legitimate question.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday, following the reverse split, shares surged and more than erased their prior day losses.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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However, the Rangers erased the Yankees’ three-run lead in the bottom of the second, as former pinstriped prospects Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran — traded for Joey Gallo in 2021 — had RBI knocks off Max Fried, with the latter tying the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After partially collapsing on Sunday, one of the two Eutaw Street buildings condemned by the city’s housing department was being demolished Monday evening, as transportation officials advised that street closures likely will continue through Tuesday’s commute.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Aug. 2025
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And its new chair, Rep. Mike Flood, wants to demolish that assumption for good.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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YouTube siphons up to 45% of ad revenue; Spotify pays artists less than a penny per stream; TikTok’s algorithm can bury a post without warning.—
Tomer Warschauer Nuni,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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The Iranians had built a uranium-enrichment facility at Fordo and buried it inside a mountain — nearly 300 feet beneath the surface.—
Yossi Melman,
ProPublica,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even after slavery was abolished, some families who sought to find their kin never did.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
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New York state, where Gendron pleaded guilty to 15 state charges, including multiple counts of murder, abolished capital punishment in 2004.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Her Altadena home and the surrounding community were ruined by the Eaton wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles in January.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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