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

If that interaction takes place, the WIMPs could annihilate each other, producing a shower of other particles in the process — including antimatter. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 25 Dec. 2024

Tika Sumpter has been annihilating red carpets as of late. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Dec. 2024

However, as the universe cooled and expanded, dark matter particles could no longer find partners to annihilate with fast enough because the interaction rate fell below the expansion rate of the universe. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

Jesus began last season as Arsenal’s centre-forward with Havertz in a deeper position and any hint of a repeat of that role in 2024-25 will annihilate his fantasy potential. —Holly Shand, The Athletic, 8 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