annihilate

verb

an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt 

annihilated; annihilating

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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)

annihilatory

ə-ˈnī-ə-lə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Synonyms

• abolish
• black out
• blot out
• cancel
• clean (up)
• efface
• eradicate
• erase
• expunge
• exterminate
• extirpate
• liquidate
• obliterate
• root (out)
• rub out
• snuff (out)
• stamp (out)
• sweep (away)
• wipe out

Examples of annihilate in a Sentence

The enemy troops were annihilated.

He annihilated his opponent in the last election.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over the course of months, Israel has annihilated Hamas in the northern part of Gaza, but what remains of the terror group — as well as the hostages — are believed to be in southern Gaza, near the border with Egypt. —The Editors, National Review, 26 Mar. 2024

If Harry and Meghan had ever encountered the same issue, they would have been annihilated…. —Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 13 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin annihilatus, past participle of annihilare to reduce to nothing, from Latin ad- + nihil nothing — more at nil

First Known Use

1525, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Kids Definition

annihilate

verb

an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt 

annihilated; annihilating

: to destroy completely

annihilation

ə-ˌnī-ə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

annihilator

ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt-ər 

noun