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

But at the time, Iran and Russia, the Syrian regime’s allies, proved to be more committed: Iran and its proxy militias—especially Hezbollah—helped Assad to besiege and bombard his own people; Russia with its Sukhoi fighter jets annihilated entire cities. —Natasha Hall, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2024

In addition to the deaths of hundreds of people, more than 35 square blocks were destroyed, annihilating houses and businesses. —Michelle Garcia, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2024

Putin also definitively wants to annihilate Ukrainian national identity, and views the conversion of Ukrainian children into faithful Russians as a major component of his criminal undertaking. —Ihor N. Stelmach, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2024

Colorado was getting annihilated every week under Karl Dorrell. —Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 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