annihilate

verb

an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce annihilate (audio)
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 adjective

Examples of annihilate in a Sentence

The enemy troops were annihilated. He annihilated his opponent in the last election.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 For over a year Israel has convinced its allies, and much of the world, that its efforts to annihilate Gaza are a legitimate act of self-defense. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024 In their efforts to annihilate Jews and their culture, the Nazis stole books from European libraries, universities and other public and private collections across Europe. Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for annihilate 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of annihilate was in 1525

Dictionary Entries Near annihilate

Cite this Entry

“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/annihilate. Accessed 6 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

annihilate

verb
an·​ni·​hi·​late ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt How to pronounce annihilate (audio)
annihilated; annihilating
: to destroy completely
annihilation noun
annihilator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on annihilate

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