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verb

annihilate

uh-NEYE-uh-layt

Annihilate (verb) means to destroy completely; to wipe out entirely. Example: “The bombing raid annihilated the enemy supply lines.”

verb
1
To destroy completely; to wipe out entirely.
"The bombing raid annihilated the enemy supply lines."
"Our team was annihilated in the final round."
2
Physics: for a particle and its antiparticle to collide and convert entirely into energy.
"When an electron and a positron meet, they annihilate and release gamma rays."

How to Use Annihilate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo destroy something so completely that nothing is left of it.

Common pairings
annihilate the enemy utterly annihilate

Word Forms

annihilated past tense, annihilates singular

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The bombing raid _____ the enemy supply lines.

Etymology

From Latin annihilare, "to reduce to nothing," from ad- ("to") + nihil ("nothing").

Origin: Latin

Antonyms

Related Words

Rhymes for annihilate

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “annihilate” mean?

The word “annihilate” means to destroy completely; to wipe out entirely. In plain terms, to destroy something so completely that nothing is left of it.

How do you pronounce “annihilate”?

“Annihilate” is pronounced uh-NEYE-uh-layt (/əˈnaɪ.ə.leɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “annihilate” in a sentence?

Here is “annihilate” used in a sentence: “The bombing raid annihilated the enemy supply lines.”

What is the opposite of “annihilate”?

The opposite of “annihilate” — its antonyms — are create and generate.

What part of speech is “annihilate”?

“Annihilate” is a verb.

Where does the word “annihilate” come from?

The word “annihilate” comes from Latin. From Latin annihilare, "to reduce to nothing," from ad- ("to") + nihil ("nothing").

How many meanings does “annihilate” have?

“Annihilate” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to destroy completely; to wipe out entirely.

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