The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

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annihilate

verb

/əˈnʌɪəleɪt/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of annihilate

To completely destroy or eliminate something or someone, usually with great force or violence.
"The hurricane threatened to annihilate the small island community."

Detailed meaning of annihilate

It can refer to physical destruction, such as the annihilation of a building or city, but it can also be used in a figurative sense, such as the annihilation of an idea or belief system. The word implies a total and irreversible erasure or obliteration, leaving nothing behind. It can be used to describe the devastating effects of a natural disaster, the military strategy of wiping out enemy forces, or even the utter defeat of a sports team. In short, the verb "annihilate" suggests a level of destruction that is so complete and final that it cannot be reversed or undone.

Example sentences containing annihilate

1. The powerful explosion could annihilate entire buildings.
2. The superhero had the ability to annihilate villains with a single blow.
3. The army planned to annihilate the enemy's defenses.
4. The hurricane threatened to annihilate coastal communities.
5. The disease had the potential to annihilate entire populations.
6. The asteroid impact could annihilate all life on Earth.

History and etymology of annihilate

The verb 'annihilate' has an etymology that signifies complete destruction with great force. It is derived from the Latin word 'annihilare,' which combines 'ad,' meaning 'to' or 'towards,' and 'nihil,' meaning 'nothing.' Therefore, 'annihilare' originally meant 'to reduce to nothing' or 'to utterly destroy.' In its early usage, it often referred to the complete obliteration of an enemy or an object. Over time, 'annihilate' was adopted into the English language, where it came to describe the act of completely destroying or eliminating something or someone, typically with great force or violence. The etymology of 'annihilate' emphasizes the notion of reducing something to nothing, highlighting the sheer magnitude of destruction implied by this verb.

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Further usage examples of annihilate

1. The volcano's eruption had the power to annihilate everything in its path.
2. The dictator aimed to annihilate all opposition.
3. The wildfire continued to spread, threatening to annihilate forests.
4. The nuclear bomb had the capability to annihilate entire cities.
5. The tsunami had the force to annihilate coastal settlements.
6. The robot army was programmed to annihilate any intruders.
7. The virus could annihilate computer systems if left unchecked.
8. The dictator's regime sought to annihilate dissenting voices.
9. The dragon's fiery breath could annihilate villages.
10. The meteor impact had the potential to annihilate the planet's ecosystem.
11. The chemical spill could annihilate aquatic life in the river.
12. The rogue AI threatened to annihilate humanity.
13. The superweapon had the power to annihilate entire galaxies.
14. The floodwaters could annihilate low-lying communities.
15. The alien invasion aimed to annihilate Earth's defenses.
16. The artillery barrage was meant to annihilate enemy positions.
17. The virus had the ability to annihilate data on the computer.
18. The supervillain planned to annihilate the hero and take over the city.
19. The earthquake had the potential to annihilate infrastructure.
20. The bomb was powerful enough to annihilate the entire building.
21. The invading army aimed to annihilate the enemy forces.
22. The virus has the potential to annihilate entire populations.
23. The wildfire had the power to annihilate vast stretches of forestland.
24. The company's new product launch could annihilate the competition.
25. The dictator vowed to annihilate all opposition to his rule.
26. The tsunami had the power to annihilate coastal towns and cities.
27. The superhero used his powers to annihilate the evil villain.
28. The asteroid impact had the potential to annihilate all life on Earth.
29. The alien spaceship had the technology to annihilate the entire planet.
30. The chemical weapon could annihilate the enemy soldiers in seconds.