annihilate

USAGE SUMMARY

"annihilate" is a correct word in written English.
It is a verb that means to destroy completely. You can use it when describing activities in which something or someone is destroyed. Example: The tyrant annihilated all of his enemies.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Emerging from a meeting with his ministers and security officials yesterday, the Israeli prime minister showed his feelings towards the accord had not softened, declaring Israel would not accept a deal between world powers "which allows a country that vows to annihilate us to develop nuclear weapons".

The Guardian

I realised war can just come and annihilate all of us.

The Guardian

"Most threatening of all," Rubio said, "we have seen Iran expand its influence throughout the Middle East, and threaten to annihilate Israel, as it moves closer to a nuclear weapon capability.

The Guardian

But if they do exist and make up the bulk of dark matter in the cosmos they ought to leave traces that AMS can detect.When two neutralinos bump into each other, the theory goes, they should annihilate one another and produce in their stead an electron and its antimatter equivalent, a positron.

The Economist

Why would they have done that, if their intent was to annihilate the entire Muslim population?

The Economist

The Nazis were extremely strange, and their determination to annihilate the Jewish race as such wherever it might be found on hallucinatory pseudo-scientific grounds was insane.

The Economist

That is why matter and antimatter annihilate one another if they ever come into contact.But if matter and antimatter were truly equal and opposite, it is difficult to see why only matter emerged from the Big Bang that marked the beginning of the universe.

The Economist

After collaborating with Hitler to conquer their country, the Soviet regime executed some 22,000 Polish officers and intelligentsia in 1940 in the so-called Katyn massacres, hoping to annihilate the country's leadership class and forestall resistance to communist rule.

The Economist

When the two meet, they annihilate each other.

The Economist

For the first half of Earth's existence, only the direct impact would have mattered, since there was no ozone layer to annihilate (the simple bacteria which existed at this time were either adapted to UV, or lived underground or underwater and were thus immune to its effects).

The Economist

Its awesome arsenal of technology innovation, financial acumen and process expertise was going to annihilate American business and we were all going to end up working for a Japanese company—if we even had a job.The best Japanese companies that learnt to become global just happened to be based in Japan.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be aware of the intensity that the word conveys; reserve its use to describe things that are truly wiped out, to avoid hyperbole.

Common error

Avoid using "annihilate" in situations where the destruction is not complete or significant. Using it for minor setbacks or disagreements dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "annihilate" is to act as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object and describes the action of reducing something to nothing or completely destroying it. Ludwig's examples illustrate its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Annihilate" is a verb that means to destroy completely, as affirmed by Ludwig. With a high frequency of use, particularly in News & Media and Science contexts, it conveys a strong sense of total destruction or eradication. While grammatically correct, it's essential to use "annihilate" judiciously, reserving it for scenarios where the destruction is truly comprehensive. Overusing it in milder contexts can diminish its impact. Related phrases like "completely destroy", "wipe out", and "eradicate completely" offer alternatives with varying degrees of intensity. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing the word's versatile applications and nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely destroy

Emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction, focusing on the action's completeness.

wipe out

Suggests a swift and comprehensive removal or destruction of something.

eradicate completely

Highlights the aim of removing something entirely, so it no longer exists.

obliterate

Indicates the erasure or complete covering of something, leaving no trace.

demolish utterly

Focuses on the act of tearing down or destroying something completely.

exterminate

Implies the killing or complete destruction of a group or species.

decimate

Refers to reducing something severely, often by a tenth, or causing widespread destruction.

nullify completely

Focuses on rendering something void or without legal force.

liquidate

Suggests converting assets to cash or eliminating something systematically.

put an end to

Highlights the act of stopping something completely and decisively.

FAQs

How can I use "annihilate" in a sentence?

You can use "annihilate" to describe the complete destruction of something, as in "The atom bomb can "annihilate" a whole city".

What words are similar to "annihilate"?

Similar words include "destroy", "eradicate", "wipe out", and "obliterate", all suggesting a complete removal or destruction.

Is it correct to use "annihilate" in a business context?

Yes, "annihilate" can be used in a business context to describe a competitor's strategy or market position being completely overcome, but use it with caution as it carries a strong connotation. A better fit could be "eliminate".

What is the difference between "annihilate" and "destroy"?

"Annihilate" implies a more complete and thorough destruction than "destroy". While "destroy" suggests damage or ruin, "annihilate" indicates total obliteration.