Dictionary

annihilate

verb an·ni·hi·late \ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt\

: to destroy (something or someone) completely

: to defeat (someone) completely

an·ni·hi·lat·edan·ni·hi·lat·ing

Full Definition of ANNIHILATE

transitive verb
1
a :  to cause to be of no effect :  nullify
b :  to destroy the substance or force of
2
:  to regard as of no consequence
3
:  to cause to cease to exist; especially :  kill
4
a :  to destroy a considerable part of <bombs annihilated the city>
b :  to vanquish completely :  rout <annihilated the visitors 56–0>
5
:  to cause (a particle and its antiparticle) to vanish by annihilating
intransitive verb
of a particle and its antiparticle :  to vanish or cease to exist by coming together and changing into other forms of energy (as photons)
an·ni·hi·la·tion \-ˌnī-ə-ˈlā-shən\ noun
an·ni·hi·la·tor \-ˌlā-tər\ noun
an·ni·hi·la·to·ry \-ˈnī-ə-lə-ˌtr-ē\ adjective
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of ANNIHILATE

Late Latin annihilatus, past participle of annihilare to reduce to nothing, from Latin ad- + nihil nothing — more at nil
First Known Use: 1525

Rhymes with ANNIHILATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, illuminate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate
ANNIHILATION Defined for Kids

annihilate

verb an·ni·hi·late \ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt\
an·ni·hi·lat·edan·ni·hi·lat·ing

Definition of ANNIHILATE for Kids

:  to destroy completely
an·ni·hi·la·tion \-ˌnī-ə-ˈlā-shən\ noun

Browse

3 ENTRIES FOUND:
Next Word in the Dictionary: annihilationismPrevious Word in the Dictionary: annihilableAll Words Near: annihilate
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears