annihilate

[uh-nahy-uh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

annihilated, annihilating 

1. to reduce to utter ruin or nonexistence; destroy utterly.

   The heavy bombing almost annihilated the city.

   Synonyms: demolish, obliterate, smash, desolate, devastate, ravage

2. to destroy the collective existence or main body of; wipe out.

   to annihilate an army.

   Synonyms: demolish, obliterate, smash

3. to annul; make void.

   to annihilate a law.

4. to cancel the effect of; nullify.

5. to defeat completely; vanquish.

   Our basketball team annihilated the visiting team.

annihilate

/ əˈnaɪələbəl, əˈnaɪəˌleɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to destroy completely; extinguish

2. informal,  (tr) to defeat totally, as in debate or argument

3. (intr) physics to undergo annihilation

Other Word Forms

• annihilable adjective
• annihilative adjective
• annihilator noun
• annihilatory adjective
• unannihilated adjective
• unannihilative adjective
• unannihilatory adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of annihilate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English adnichilat(e) “destroyed,” from Late Latin annihilātus “brought to nothing,” past participle of annihilāre “to bring to nothing,” from Latin an- an- ² + nihil “nothing” + -āre, infinitive suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of annihilate¹

C16: from Late Latin annihilāre to bring to nothing, from Latin nihil nothing

Example Sentences

However, theory suggests that when two WIMPs collide, they annihilate each other and release energetic particles, including gamma ray photons.

Read more on Science Daily

He annihilated the Carthaginians and Numidians standing in his way, which forced Hannibal to retreat from southern Italy to fight what each man hoped would be “a final battle” at Zama.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

How fitting that the U.N. chose that date to vote to annihilate the spirit of Jewish self-determination.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"The consequences are that we go into a general election where Reform will be the biggest challenger in most Labour seats... and we will be annihilated."

Read more on BBC

To emphasize the pledge, she adds: “ ‘We will annihilate them,’ . . . hitting all four syllables,” before turning away.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crush 
• decimate 
• demolish 
• eradicate 
• exterminate 
• extinguish 
• finish off www.thesaurus.com
• liquidate 
• negate 
• obliterate 
• quell 
• raze 
• wipe out