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!
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of annihilate
From the middle of the seventeenth century to the end of the Cold War, forces defeated in a battle at sea lost almost a third of their battle squadrons on average; 13 percent of the time, the losing side was annihilated altogether.
—
Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2025
Caine left a strong impression on the then-first-term commander-in-chief, telling him that ISIS could be annihilated in one week.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 22 Feb. 2025
The landing force annihilated, the battle is lost. Against overwhelming odds, Scott dares the unthinkable — cross behind enemy lines, survive the lethal landscape, evade capture by ruthless enemies, resist natural predators, face human deserters and finish the mission singlehandedly.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
The artist and rapper has been annihilating each show she’s been attending and her lineup is stacked.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Stephen Biddle, Foreign Affairs, 19 Mar. 2025
Caine left a strong impression on the then-first-term commander-in-chief, telling him that ISIS could be annihilated in one week.
—Filip Timotija, The Hill, 22 Feb. 2025
The landing force annihilated, the battle is lost. Against overwhelming odds, Scott dares the unthinkable — cross behind enemy lines, survive the lethal landscape, evade capture by ruthless enemies, resist natural predators, face human deserters and finish the mission singlehandedly.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025
The artist and rapper has been annihilating each show she’s been attending and her lineup is stacked.
—Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 7 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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The Department of Justice eradicated a decades-long civil rights case regarding the desegregation of a Louisiana school district.—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
-
Screwworms were eradicated from the US by about 1966.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2025
Verb
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To allow these courts to be destroyed to make pickleball courts is just wrong.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2025
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Mexican military destroys meth lab 00:28 A sign was nailed to a post at the entrance of the lab.—
Isobel Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Verb
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Not without its controversy, like life, the show has tried to demonstrate that family can overcome anything with love, laughter, and conversation.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Trailing 0-2, the Heat now faces a series deficit that not many NBA teams have overcome.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Every February, Dresden seeks to commemorate the Allied bombing attack in 1945 that essentially erased the city.—
Mark Sappenfield,
Christian Science Monitor,
2 May 2025
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Buxton’s leadoff single in the ninth inning was erased by a double play, and the Twins only scored once in the 10th on Jonah Bride’s sac fly.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Verb
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His effect on next-door Canada, however, has been to demolish America’s reputation.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
29 Apr. 2025
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The Pennsylvania home where Yankees great Reggie Jackson spent his childhood was demolished Monday.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The election of a pope can be interrupted, not stopped The pope's funeral will end when his wooden coffin is taken in procession from St. Peter's Basilica to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the church in Rome where he will be buried.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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But Pope Francis chose to be buried in Rome, at the Basilica of St. Mary Major — about 2.5 miles away.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The most recent collective bargaining agreement, signed by the players and the league, abolished the college draft and opened the door for every new player to enter the league as a free agent.—
Meg Linehan,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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Others, like the Cato Institute, go one step further and suggest FEMA be abolished entirely, replaced by market solutions and state compacts.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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There is nothing that can ruin trying to sleep through a redeye like the sunrise hitting your face.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 9 May. 2025.
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