Annihilate – Definition & Meaning

Annihilate is a word that is often used to describe the complete destruction or obliteration of something or someone. It is a powerful word that carries a lot of weight and is often used in serious or dramatic situations. In this article, we will explore the various definitions and meanings of the word annihilate, its origins, and its associations.

Definitions

The word annihilate is defined as “to completely destroy or obliterate something or someone.” It can also mean “to reduce something to nothing” or “to cause something to cease to exist.” In physics, the term is used to describe the complete conversion of matter into energy.

Origin

The word annihilate comes from the Latin word “annihilare,” which means “to reduce to nothing.” The word has been in use in English since the 16th century.

Meaning in different dictionaries

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the word annihilate means “to destroy completely.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “to cause to cease to exist” or “to destroy completely.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “to destroy something completely so that nothing is left.”

Associations

The word annihilate is often associated with destruction, violence, and war. It is a word that is used in serious or dramatic situations, and it carries a lot of weight. It is also associated with the concept of power, as the ability to annihilate something or someone implies a great deal of power.

Synonyms

Some synonyms of annihilate include destroy, obliterate, eradicate, decimate, and wipe out.

Antonyms

Antonyms of annihilate include create, build, construct, and preserve.

The same root words

The word annihilate shares the same root as the words annihilation and annihilator. Annihilation means “the act of completely destroying or obliterating something,” while an annihilator is something or someone that causes destruction or obliteration.

Example Sentences

1. The hurricane threatened to annihilate the small coastal town.
2. The army was able to annihilate the enemy forces in a single battle.
3. The disease nearly annihilated the entire population of the village.
4. The company’s profits were annihilated by the economic downturn.
5. The scientist’s research could potentially lead to the annihilation of certain diseases.