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Home/USA Today Rootonym/To reduce to nonexistence; to destroy, defeat or ruin utterly (verb)

To reduce to nonexistence; to destroy, defeat or ruin utterly (verb)

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Looking for the answer to the USA Today Rootonym clue “To reduce to nonexistence; to destroy, defeat or ruin utterly (verb)”? The solution is ANNIHILATE, a 10-letter word built on the root NIHIL (“nothing”). It appeared in the August 21, 2026 (Friday) USA Today Rootonym. See the full puzzle for that day's other words.

Answer
ANNIHILATE
**NIHIL***NIHILmeans “nothing”

In a sentence

Research shows that chemical and biological weapons can ANNIHILATE a whole population.

About this clue

The Rootonym clue “To reduce to nonexistence; to destroy, defeat or ruin utterly (verb)” has the answer ANNIHILATE (10 letters), built on the root NIHIL, which means “nothing”. Browse the full August 21, 2026 Rootonym puzzle for the other three words, or see all Rootonym answers.

Related clues from this puzzle

Conforming to an approved form of a doctrine or ideology, esp. in religion (adjective) Not guided, restrained or controlled by the mind; excessive; unreasonable; shockingly unjust (adjective) To move with a wavelike motion with smooth rising and falling (verb)
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