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annihilatory

 - 1 dictionary result

an⋅ni⋅hi⋅late

[uh-nahy-uh-leyt]
–verb (used with object), -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.
1. to reduce to utter ruin or nonexistence; destroy utterly: The heavy bombing almost annihilated the city.
2. to destroy the collective existence or main body of; wipe out: to annihilate an army.
3. to annul; make void: to annihilate a law.
4. to cancel the effect of; nullify.
5. to defeat completely; vanquish: Our basketball team annihilated the visiting team.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME adnichilat(e) destroyed < LL annihilātus brought to nothing, annihilated (ptp. of annihilāre) (L an- an- 2 + nihil nothing + -ātus -ate 1 )


an⋅ni⋅hi⋅la⋅tive [uh-nahy-uh-ley-tiv, uh-luh] , an⋅ni⋅hi⋅la⋅to⋅ry [uh-nahy-uh-luh-tawr-ee, ‑tohr-ee] , adjective


1. ravage, devastate, desolate. 1, 2. smash, obliterate, demolish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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