English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

verb

annihilate

uh-NEYE-uh-layt

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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

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Third person singular: annihilates
Past tense: annihilated

Test yourself on “annihilate” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The bombing raid _____ the enemy supply lines.

Etymology

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

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

eliminate eradicate decimate extinguish wipe out carry off

Antonyms

create generate

Related words

make father mother kill create build generation produce

Rhymes for annihilate

ate date rate mate abate slate plate state create update locate emirate

See all rhymes for annihilate →

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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