annihilation

[uh-nahy-uh-ley-shuh n] /əˌnaɪ əˈleɪ ʃən/
noun
1.
an act or instance of annihilating, or of completely destroying or defeating someone or something:
the brutal annihilation of millions of people.
2.
the state of being annihilated; total destruction; extinction:
fear of nuclear annihilation.
3.
Physics.
  1. Also called pair annihilation. the process in which a particle and antiparticle unite, annihilate each other, and produce one or more photons.
    Compare positronium.
  2. the conversion of rest mass into energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
Origin
1630-40; (< F) < Late Latin annihilātiōn- (stem of annihilātiō). See annihilate, -ion
Examples from the web for annihilation
  • Complete and utter annihilation by nuclear disaster and/or an asteroid collision with all of us on one planet was almost certain.
  • Suicide, self-destruction, auto-annihilation: these are not pretty words.
  • The gradual annihilation of distance will put human beings in closer contact and harmonize their views and aspirations.
  • Various plans are now being suggested for his painless annihilation or his undignified exit from the premises.
  • On the other hand, it is a kiss capable of betrayal or deception and of bringing the speaker to an ecstatic brink of annihilation.
  • Which makes me think this rendition of the play is a robot-tale of the annihilation of humankind.
  • Indeed, the annihilation of dark matter replaces conventional nuclear burning in stars as the dominant energy mechanism.
  • As long as opportunities and excuses for nuclear aggression persist, the world will never be safe from annihilation.
  • It's an unholy mix of encryption, anonymity, and digital cash to bring about the ultimate annihilation of all forms of government.
  • Citizens self-report for annihilation based on what a war simulation tells them to do.
British Dictionary definitions for annihilation

annihilation

/əˌnaɪəˈleɪʃən/
noun
1.
total destruction
2.
the act of annihilating
3.
(physics) the destruction of a particle and its antiparticle when they collide. The annihilation of an electron with a positron generates two or, very rarely, three photons of annihilation radiation. The annihilation of a nucleon with its antiparticle generates several pions
Word Origin and History for annihilation
n.

1630s, from Middle French annihilation (restored from Old French anichilacion, 14c.), or directly from Late Latin annihilationem (nominative annihilatio), noun of action from past participle stem of annihilare (see annihilate).