annihilation

/əˌnaɪəˈleɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /əˌnaɪəˈleɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˌnī-ə-ˈlā-shən/ (ame, mw)

annihilation — noun

1. the complete wiping out of a person, group, place, or system so that it no longe

1.名詞C1
釋義

the complete wiping out of a person, group, place, or system so that it no longer exists

例句

After the wildfire, the village faced near annihilation within a single night.

collocation: face near annihilation

Scientists warned that the virus could bring annihilation to the last frogs.

同義詞
  • destruction

    broader and more neutral; it does not always imply that nothing remains

  • obliteration

    strong and formal; emphasizes leaving no visible trace

  • eradication

    often used for diseases, pests, or unwanted groups rather than general physical ruin

反義詞
  • preservation

    keeping something safe from damage or loss

  • survival

    continuing to exist instead of being wiped out

文法句型

annihilation of + noun

toward annihilation

用法筆記

Usually appears in formal or dramatic contexts about total loss. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about being beaten decisively rather than physically destroyed.

常見錯誤

❌The storm caused the annihilation of two windows.
✅The storm destroyed two windows.
💡'annihilation' suggests total wipeout, not ordinary damage to a small part of something.

2. an extremely one-sided defeat in a game, election, or other contest

2.名詞C2
釋義

an extremely one-sided defeat in a game, election, or other contest

例句

Baraka's team suffered annihilation in the final, losing eight goals to nil.

pattern: suffer annihilation in a match

The mayor's party faced electoral annihilation after the corruption scandal broke.

collocation: electoral annihilation

同義詞
  • rout

    more common in journalism; often suggests the loser had no answer at all

  • thrashing

    more informal, especially in British English

  • humiliation

    focuses more on embarrassment than on the size of the loss

反義詞
  • victory

    the opposite result in a contest

  • comeback

    the opposite kind of story, where the losing side recovers

文法句型

suffer annihilation

annihilation for + noun

用法筆記

Common in sports and political commentary when the losing side is overwhelmed from start to finish. Distinguish from sense 1, which refers to actual destruction rather than defeat in a contest.

常見錯誤

❌Our team suffered annihilation by only one point.
✅Our team lost by one point.
💡'annihilation' is used only for a defeat that is overwhelmingly one-sided.