annihilō
The English verb 'annihilate' can be translated into Latin as annihilō. Wiktionary also lists dēleō.
Meaning: to reduce to nothing, to destroy, to eradicate (verb)
Ways to say it
| Latin |
|---|
| annihilō |
| dēleō |
The primary meaning of these terms is to reduce something to nothing, to destroy or to eradicate. Use annihilō when you want to emphasize the concept of reducing something to absolute nothingness.
Which one should you use?
While annihilō emphasizes the reduction to nothingness, dēleō is more commonly used for the act of destroying, erasing or blotting out something existing.
Did you know?
- The word dēleō is the direct ancestor of the English word 'delete'. While 'annihilate' sounds more violent, dēleō originally meant to scrape or rub out text from a wax tablet.
- The phrase Carthago delenda est became a political slogan in Rome, with the orator Cato the Elder ending every single speech with it regardless of the topic.
- When a Roman official ordered the 'damnatio memoriae' of a person, they were literally using the concept of dēleō to blot that individual out of all public records and history.
Examples in context
- Exstinguere hostemTo annihilate the enemy
- Delere urbemTo annihilate the city
Example conversation
Two people discuss a strategic battle plan.
- JuliaQuid agis, Quinte?What are you doing, Quintus?
- QuintusExercitum hostis annihilō.I am annihilating the enemy army.
- JuliaEstne hoc necessarium?Is this necessary?
- QuintusIta, ut pax redeat.Yes, so that peace may return.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “annihilate” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
