Annihilated Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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annihilated
[ษหnaษชษหleษชtษชd ]
Definition
extreme destruction
To annihilate means to completely destroy or eliminate something so that it ceases to exist. In a more figurative sense, it can refer to a crushing defeat or overwhelming defeat in a competition or argument. The term is often used in contexts involving warfare, science, and competitive situations. When something is annihilated, there is often no trace left behind. It signifies the total eradication of an entity or concept, often evoking a sense of finality.
Synonyms
defeated, destroyed, erased, obliterated, vanquished.
Examples of usage
- The army was annihilated in the battle.
- The comet is expected to annihilate the planet on impact.
- The proposal was annihilated by the critics.
- They felt annihilated by the constant criticism.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Science
- In physics, annihilation refers to the reaction between matter and antimatter, resulting in their conversion into energy.
- When a particle and its antiparticle collide, they can annihilate, releasing a significant amount of energy in the form of gamma rays.
- This process is not just theoretical; it has practical implications in fields like nuclear energy and certain medical imaging technologies.
Pop Culture
- The theme of annihilation appears in various science fiction movies, such as 'Annihilation', where characters explore the consequences of a mysterious force erasing existence.
- Comic book characters, like the Marvel villain Thanos, express the desire to annihilate half of all life to restore balance.
- Video games also feature annihilation, often involving epic battles where players must prevent the destruction of their universe.
Psychology
- Annihilation anxiety refers to the fear of complete non-existence, often linked to existential thoughts about life and mortality.
- This anxiety can influence how people perceive their purpose and the legacy they leave behind.
- In therapy, discussing feelings of annihilation can help individuals confront their fears and find meaning.
Literature
- Annihilation is a common theme in dystopian literature, reflecting humanity's fears of total destruction through war or environmental collapse.
- Writers like George Orwell in '1984' explore the annihilation of freedom and individual thought.
- The concept also appears in poetry, symbolizing emotional or existential despair.
Origin of 'annihilated'
Main points about word origin
- The word comes from the Latin 'annihilare', meaning 'to reduce to nothing'.
- It is formed from 'ad-' (to) and 'nihil' (nothing).
- The concept of destruction has been in human language for centuries, representing the ultimate end.
The word 'annihilate' originates from the Latin 'annihilare', which means 'to make nothing'. This Latin term is a combination of 'ad-' meaning 'to' and 'nihil' meaning 'nothing'. The concept of annihilation implies not just destruction but the reduction of something to a state of non-existence; it carries with it a sense of totality in the act of destruction. Annihilate began to appear in English during the late 16th century and has since developed a range of uses in both scientific and figurative language. In modern usage, it can refer to anything from the annihilation of molecules in physics to the metaphorical annihilation of someone's arguments in a debate.