annihilate
verb
an·ni·hi·late
ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt 
annihilated; annihilating
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
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)
Examples of annihilate in a Sentence
The enemy troops were annihilated.
He annihilated his opponent in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web
With all of this being said, Teyana annihilated the other looks that were at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
—
Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025
If not for Hunt, we’d have been annihilated on the glass.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
At that point in the game, the Philadelphia Eagles were annihilating the Kansas City Chiefs, and the team went on to win 40 to 22.
—Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
The horrendous Pacific Palisades fire annihilated huge swaths of the surrounding community and burned some of the Getty Villa’s grounds.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
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Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025
If not for Hunt, we’d have been annihilated on the glass.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2025
At that point in the game, the Philadelphia Eagles were annihilating the Kansas City Chiefs, and the team went on to win 40 to 22.
—Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
The horrendous Pacific Palisades fire annihilated huge swaths of the surrounding community and burned some of the Getty Villa’s grounds.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for annihilate
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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