annihilate
annihilate
Pronunciation
Annihilate (American English): /əˈnɪhɪˌleɪt/ (Four syllables)
an (ə): Schwa sound, a neutral vowel sound like the "uh" in "but"
ni (ˈnɪ): Stressed vowel sound, a combination of "i" in "win" and "e" in "bet"
hi (hɪ): Unstressed vowel sound, like the "i" in "hit"
late (ˌleɪt): Syllable with two sounds: "l" consonant sound and "ei" diphthong sound like "ay" in "say"
Word Form Variations
Annihilate is a verb, so it doesn't have variations for singular and plural like nouns do. However, there are a few other word forms related to "annihilate":
Present participle: annihilating (continuing action) - "The storm is annihilating the crops."
Past participle: annihilated (completed action) - "The army had annihilated the enemy forces."
Adjective:
Annihilable (less common) - "The virus is not annihilable with current treatments."
Annihilative (describes something with the purpose of annihilation) - "The weapon had an annihilative blast radius."
Noun: Annihilator (the one who annihilates) - "The invading force was a ruthless annihilator."
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Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
Verb:
Definition:
To destroy utterly, leaving nothing behind. (This is the most common definition)
To defeat completely and decisively.
Synonyms: demolish, obliterate, eradicate, devastate, vanquish, crush, rout
Antonyms: build, create, preserve, nurture, sustain, strengthen
Noun (Less Common):
Definition:
The complete destruction of something.
A person or thing that annihilates.
Synonyms (Destruction): devastation, demolition, obliteration
Synonyms (Person/Thing): destroyer, eradicator, vanquisher
Antonyms (Destruction): creation, construction, preservation
Antonyms (Person/Thing): builder, creator, preserver
Adjective (Less Common):
Definition:
Capable of being annihilated. (Note: This is a less frequent usage)
Of or relating to annihilation.
Synonyms (Capable of Annihilation): destructible, eradicable
Antonyms (Capable of Annihilation): indestructible, ineradicable
Synonyms (Relating to Annihilation): destructive, devastating
Adverb (Not Recommended):
Annihilate is primarily a verb. While an adverb form could be grammatically constructed ("They annihilated the enemy annihilatively"), it sounds awkward and unnatural. It's best to use a different adverb to emphasise the manner of destruction (e.g., completely, utterly).
Examples of Use
Books:
Science Fiction: "The Death Star annihilated the entire Rebel base with a single, devastating blow." (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope by George Lucas)
Fantasy: "The dragon unleashed a fiery breath that annihilated the village in an instant." (The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien)
Newspapers:
Headline: "Forest Fire Annihilates Thousands of Acres of Land" (Los Angeles Times)
Online Publications:
Gaming Article: "The new weapon update allows players to annihilate their opponents with ease." (IGN)
Science Article: "Researchers are studying the potential of a new drug to annihilate cancer cells." (Science Daily)
Entertainment Mediums:
Movie Dialogue: "We must find a way to annihilate Thanos before he destroys the universe." (Avengers: Infinity War)
Video Game: "The objective is to infiltrate the enemy base and annihilate their forces." (Call of Duty)
General Public Discourse:
Social Media Post: "Climate change, if left unchecked, could annihilate entire ecosystems." (Twitter)
Historical Context: "The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki annihilated the cities and caused immense human suffering." (Historical documentaries)
Bonus Example - Figurative Language:
"The critic's scathing review annihilated the author's confidence." (This uses "annihilate" figuratively to describe a devastating effect, not literal destruction.)
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10 Famous Quotes Using the term Annihilate
While "annihilate" is a powerful word, it's not as common in famous quotes as one might expect. Here's a list of ten quotes that capture the essence of the word "annihilate" in different ways, though some may not directly use the word itself:
"The crown of life is neither happiness nor annihilation; it is understanding." (Bertrand Russell) - This quote highlights the concept of complete destruction (annihilation) contrasted with seeking knowledge.
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left." (Benjamin Franklin) - This quote implies the devastating consequences of war, potentially leading to annihilation.
"Try as you will, you cannot annihilate that eternal relic of the human heart, love." (Victor Hugo) - This quote emphasises the enduring nature of love, which cannot be completely destroyed.
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." (Neil Armstrong) - This iconic quote uses the opposite concept of "annihilation" - a giant leap forward in human achievement.
"An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." (Mahatma Gandhi) - This quote warns against a cycle of destruction (potentially leading to annihilation) and promotes peace.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke) - This quote suggests that inaction can lead to the destruction of good by evil forces (a form of annihilation).
"The universe is not obliged to make sense to you." (Neil deGrasse Tyson) - This quote implies the vastness and potential indifference of the universe, where entire worlds or civilizations could be annihilated without consequence.
"The mind is everything. What you think you become." (Buddha) - This quote highlights the power of thought, which can shape reality and potentially lead to self-destruction (a form of annihilation) through negative thoughts.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." (Helen Keller) - Similar to quote #3, this emphasises the importance of things that cannot be annihilated, like love and emotions.
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back." (George Herrmann) - This proverb uses a playful take on destruction and rebirth, where curiosity might lead to a temporary "annihilation" (death of the cat), but ultimately results in something positive (the cat's return).
Etymology
The word "annihilate" comes from a mashup of two old Latin words: "ad" meaning "to" and "nihil" meaning "nothing." Basically, it's saying "to go to nothing."
The word first showed up in English around the 1400s, and it meant exactly what it means today - to completely destroy something, leaving nothing behind. Think of a giant eraser wiping something off the page, or a powerful explosion that leaves no trace. That's annihilation!
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Phrases + Idioms Containing the term Annihilate
Annihilate, while a powerful word on its own, isn't as common in set phrases or idioms. However, here are a few options that capture the essence of complete destruction:
Annihilate utterly: This emphasises the complete and total nature of the destruction.
Reduce to ashes: This idiom implies a fiery destruction that leaves nothing but remnants.
Wipe off the map: This is a more informal way of saying something is completely destroyed, often used figuratively.
Not leave a stone unturned: This idiom, though not directly about destruction, implies such thoroughness in searching or attacking that nothing is left untouched (potentially leading to annihilation).
Bonus - Figurative Uses:
Annihilate one's confidence/hopes/dreams: This uses "annihilate" figuratively to describe a devastating blow to someone's emotional state or aspirations.
Posts Related to Annihilate
Source Information
Definition of annihilate from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
