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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of annihilate
Nearly all of humanity — 12 planets’ worth — is annihilated by the Cylons, an android race created by mankind itself.
—
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The region has been on edge for the past two years as Israel seeks to annihilate the Hamas militant group, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
—Elena Becatoros, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
Some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), are eager to see the U.S. intervene to annihilate Iran’s nuclear program.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The answer is very simple: because Iran is publicly vowing to annihilate another sovereign country — Israel — that has been recognized by the United Nations since 1948.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
The region has been on edge for the past two years as Israel seeks to annihilate the Hamas militant group, an Iranian ally, in the Gaza Strip, where war still rages after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.
—Elena Becatoros, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2025
Some Democrats, including Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), are eager to see the U.S. intervene to annihilate Iran’s nuclear program.
—Jonathan Easley, The Hill, 20 June 2025
The answer is very simple: because Iran is publicly vowing to annihilate another sovereign country — Israel — that has been recognized by the United Nations since 1948.
—Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.—
Peter Aitken
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Aug. 2025
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Its nuclear infrastructure is wrecked but by no means wholly eradicated.—
Suzanne Maloney,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But when our home was destroyed, our studio lost, and the war displaced us to Khanyounis’s tent camps, cooking became less about flavor and more about survival.—
Hamada Shaqoura,
Time,
7 Aug. 2025
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There were 25 diesel buses that were destroyed per the grant regulations, Young said.—
Harley Walls,
Arkansas Online,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Padres are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to overcome the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League west.—
Bernie Pleskoff,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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The narrative that Apple is behind in AI has been looming over the company all year – and some analysts see it as a more challenging issue to overcome than tariffs.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday, following the reverse split, shares surged and more than erased their prior day losses.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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However, the Rangers erased the Yankees’ three-run lead in the bottom of the second, as former pinstriped prospects Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran — traded for Joey Gallo in 2021 — had RBI knocks off Max Fried, with the latter tying the game.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Even an old grain silo near the former Nickel Plate train station raised a few hackles when it was demolished.—
John Tuohy,
IndyStar,
14 Aug. 2025
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When a building gets demolished, what happens to all that concrete, glass, stone or metal?—
Sydney Franklin,
The Enquirer,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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If a body is here, whoever buried it didn’t bother digging deep, because there’s no fear of getting caught.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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Special effects buried gas lines underground and integrated them into the structure so the blaze could be easily started and stopped.—
Daron James,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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New York state, where Gendron pleaded guilty to 15 state charges, including multiple counts of murder, abolished capital punishment in 2004.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
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Chancellor Elva LeBlanc said Thursday that although faculty associations at TCC’s six campuses will be abolished Sept. 1, faculty will still have a voice and be included in decision-making processes.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
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But a sewer backup during this weekend's historic flood ruined 60 of the backpacks, Maya Bell reports.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 22 Aug. 2025.
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