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!
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of annihilate
Invasive species such as goats have annihilated local vegetation.
—
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
As a result, major powers can reliably maintain nuclear forces that can survive all-out surprise attack by all other powers and inflict unacceptable—annihilating—damage in retaliation.
—Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Technology didn’t just enable us to annihilate ourselves.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2024
It has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council nine times for its nuclear activities and routinely makes outlandish threats about annihilating South Korea and its allies.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for annihilate 
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Dec. 2024
As a result, major powers can reliably maintain nuclear forces that can survive all-out surprise attack by all other powers and inflict unacceptable—annihilating—damage in retaliation.
—Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024
Technology didn’t just enable us to annihilate ourselves.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2024
It has been sanctioned by the UN Security Council nine times for its nuclear activities and routinely makes outlandish threats about annihilating South Korea and its allies.
—Robert E. Kelly, Foreign Affairs, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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Israel then vowed to eradicate Hamas and have since devastated the Palestinian territory.—
John Mac Ghlionn,
Newsweek,
14 Jan. 2025
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How The Decline In Cases Was Achieved The key to eradicating Guinea worm is providing access to clean water without the crustaceans.—
Mark Kortepeter,
Forbes,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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At least 25 people have so far been killed and at least 16 are missing in the wildfires, which have destroyed over 12,300 structures.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
15 Jan. 2025
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This year, however, will be a much more muted affair, as the Palisades and Eaton Fires have destroyed thousands of homes, killed 25 people and forced more than 150,000 residents to evacuate.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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From Klay Thompson to Shaun Livingston to Ball, the NBA has been filled with stories of players overcoming tremendous physical and personal adversity to return to the court.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
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Both quarterbacks, roommates at the Manning Passing Academy, overcame difficult, and certainly shocking, defeats on their way to leading Ohio State and Notre Dame, respectively, to Monday’s CFP national championship game in Atlanta.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The odds are that the response will sit in an internal digital memory buffer for a while and not be immediately erased or discarded.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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Nearby Altadena, a historically largely Black neighborhood, has essentially been erased from the map.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The plan is a major change for Jackson Memorial Hospital, which would demolish two office buildings across from a Metrorail station in 2027 to make way for affordable and workforce housing in two towers filled with shops, a hotel and more than 800 apartments.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
10 Jan. 2025
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Developers purchased the Young family home for $5.8 million in February 2023, and recently demolished the 4 Burleigh Street property to build a $28.75 million residential site, consequence.net reported.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Jane was buried in a field with dozens upon dozens of other people with no markers.—
Lincee Ray,
EW.com,
18 Jan. 2025
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After all, the stuff has been buried for what, seven decades, so what’s the big deal?—
Jim Clash,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
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That loophole remained open following the most recent U.S. election, which saw California voters shooting down Proposition 6, which would have abolished prison labor.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2025
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So legislation abolishing the department (already written by GOP Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota) would have to pass through budget reconciliation, which lets certain legislation pass with a mere majority in the Senate.—
Dylan Matthews,
Vox,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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While that’s still below 1% of all luggage handled, try explaining that statistic to the family whose weekend away with the kids has been ruined by lost luggage.—
Duncan Madden,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near annihilate
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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