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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of annihilate
The worst-case scenario, which seems highly unrealistic, is that ByteDance annihilates every U.S. account and video—a complete wiping of the memelog, the Fried Library of Alexandria deleted in a click.
—
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025
There were seven Crusades, which cut down the flower of Europe’s nobility and annihilated innumerable poor serfs for a period of more than 150 years until 1270.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Dec. 2024
Why Red Bull struggled in 2024 In 2022 and 2023, Verstappen annihilated his rivals by winning 15 and 19 races out of the 22 in calendar respectively.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were alighting, annihilating, halting, hightailing and lathing.
—David Leonhardt, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for annihilate 
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025
There were seven Crusades, which cut down the flower of Europe’s nobility and annihilated innumerable poor serfs for a period of more than 150 years until 1270.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Dec. 2024
Why Red Bull struggled in 2024 In 2022 and 2023, Verstappen annihilated his rivals by winning 15 and 19 races out of the 22 in calendar respectively.
—Dan Cancian, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Yesterday’s pangrams were alighting, annihilating, halting, hightailing and lathing.
—David Leonhardt, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for annihilate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for annihilate
Verb
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Prions behave differently than viruses and bacteria and are virtually impossible to eradicate.—
Jim Robbin,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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However, the longer the marathon, the more the runners’ energy reserves are drained, making reaching the finish line – eradicating cancer, say – increasingly difficult.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In addition to Meester and Brody, Cameron Mathison, Anna Faris, Ricki Lake, Cary Elwes and Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag were among the stars who confirmed that their homes were also destroyed.—
Stephanie Wenger,
People.com,
8 Feb. 2025
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Gazans are also facing dehydration with 70% of critical water infrastructure damaged or destroyed throughout the war, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe your motive was to overcome a particular phobia, say, or heal from a really bad breakup.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
11 Feb. 2025
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And Republicans control the Senate 53-47 – which is not a wide enough margin to overcome the 60-vote threshold needed to bypass the filibuster, meaning Republicans will need Democrats to avoid a shutdown.—
Riley Beggin,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Those odds dropped slowly with each game Ovechkin missed due to a fractured left fibula until all progress from his hot streak was erased.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
The Athletic,
7 Feb. 2025
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That’s surrender — to the idea that this is a zero-sum war where one side must be erased for the other to survive.—
Hen Mazzig,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Crimson Tide have won their last seven games, most recently demolishing Texas 103-80 on Tuesday.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
15 Feb. 2025
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The plan was to demolish the old office building at 85 Gracechurch Street in the heart of London’s financial district and construct a new 32-story tower in its place.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Even stripped of defenses, facilities buried deep underground will be hard to destroy.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2025
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He’s got a secret stash of company intel buried in a trunk.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But Reagan faced a Democratic House of Representatives that objected, and by 1984, the GOP had abandoned its call for abolishing the department.—
Richard Stengel,
TIME,
15 Feb. 2025
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Moreover, the president has intertwined his calls to abolish the $268 billion bureaucracy with attempts to leverage it to advance his own agenda.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Ancient people weren't about to let these pests ruin their crops or their lives.—
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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The film ends with Ross going full Red Hulk in the White House Rose Garden (oops), nearly ruining his legacy (Sterns’ real prize) and ultimately forcing him to admit his wrongdoing, give up his office, and head to The Raft to serve an undetermined amount of time in the floating prison.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near annihilate
Cite this Entry
“Annihilate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/annihilate. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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