annihilate

[ uh-nahy-uh-leyt ]

verb (used with object)

, an·ni·hi·lat·ed, an·ni·hi·lat·ing.

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

Derived Forms

• annihilable, adjective
• anˈnihilative, adjective
• anˈnihiˌlator, noun

Other Words From

• an·ni·hi·la·tive [uh, -, nahy, -, uh, -ley-tiv, ‑, uh, -l, uh, ‑], an·ni·hi·la·to·ry [uh, -, nahy, -, uh, -l, uh, -tawr-ee, ‑-tohr-ee], adjective
• unan·nihi·lated adjective
• unan·nihi·lative adjective
• unan·nihi·la·tory 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

But Mr Pezeshkian, who was elected in July, adopted a more conciliatory tone than his hard-line predecessors, avoiding rhetoric about annihilating the Islamic Republic’s arch-enemy.

From BBC

In that November’s election, the Republican president annihilated his Democratic challenger.

From BBC

Instead of competing as a limited series, “Shōgun” now will annihilate any and all comers in the drama categories.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Farage told me it was nailed on Labour would win the election and the Conservatives would be annihilated so people could vote Reform without fearing any wider consequence caused by them.

From BBC

“We got annihilated on loose balls, rebounds. Gave up 20 offensive rebounds and 29 more shots. So, we all own it,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

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