annihilate

/əˈnaɪəleɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈnaɪəleɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈnī-ə-ˌlāt/ (ame, mw)

annihilate — verb

  • annihilatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • annihilateshe / she / it
  • annihilatedpast simple
  • annihilating-ing form

1. to wipe out people or things so fully that nothing important remains or survives

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to wipe out people or things so fully that nothing important remains or survives

例句

A wildfire annihilated the wooden houses along the dry hillside.

annihilate + place/object destroyed completely

The blast annihilated the lab, leaving only twisted metal behind.

同義詞
  • destroy

    the broad everyday verb; it does not always imply total loss

  • obliterate

    often stresses leaving no visible trace at all

  • wipe out

    close in meaning, especially for populations or groups, but slightly less formal

反義詞
  • preserve

    focuses on keeping something safe and intact

  • save

    emphasizes preventing destruction or death

文法句型

annihilate + army/building/population/cells

用法筆記

Usually takes an object that is left with virtually nothing useful or alive. It is much stronger than words like 'damage' or 'harm'.

常見錯誤

❌The storm annihilated one window, but the house was mostly fine.
✅The storm smashed one window, but the house was mostly fine.
💡'annihilate' suggests near-total destruction, not limited damage.

2. to beat an opponent by such a huge margin that the contest never feels close

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to beat an opponent by such a huge margin that the contest never feels close

例句

Lucía's team annihilated the visitors in the school final yesterday.

annihilate + team/opponent in sport

The ruling party was annihilated at the polls after the tax scandal.

passive: be annihilated at the polls

同義詞
  • crush

    very close in force, especially in sports or political commentary

  • thrash

    more informal and strongly associated with games or matches

  • rout

    often used in military or journalistic writing for a complete defeat

反義詞
  • edge

    describes winning by only a small margin

  • lose to

    marks the opposite result for the subject

文法句型

annihilate + team/opponent/rival

用法筆記

This sense is common in sports and election coverage. Distinguish it from sense 1: here the focus is an overwhelming result, not physical destruction.

常見錯誤

❌Our team annihilated them 2–1.
✅Our team beat them 2
💡1.' — 'annihilate' sounds wrong for a close result because it implies a one-sided defeat.

3. to make a rule, claim, or effect lose all force so that it can no longer stand

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to make a rule, claim, or effect lose all force so that it can no longer stand

例句

The court ruling annihilated the ban before it could take effect.

formal use with law or ruling

One software update annihilated the old password rule across the company.

同義詞
  • nullify

    the closest formal equivalent for making something legally or practically ineffective

  • invalidate

    often used when a rule, document, or claim is no longer accepted as valid

  • void

    common in legal contexts, especially for contracts or decisions

反義詞
  • uphold

    means keeping a rule, decision, or claim in force

  • confirm

    shows that a claim or decision remains valid

文法句型

annihilate + claim/rule/argument/effect

用法筆記

Mostly appears in formal argument, legal writing, or technical discussion. The object is abstract here, such as a claim, defence, rule, or effect.

常見錯誤

❌The medicine annihilated the pain a little.
✅The medicine reduced the pain a little.
💡this sense means removing force completely, not making something slightly weaker.