IPA: /əˈnaɪəˌleɪtə/
KK: /əˈnaɪəˌleɪtər/
A person or thing that completely destroys or eliminates something.
The annihilator was designed to remove all traces of the enemy's presence.
Annihilator → It is formed from "ad-" (meaning to) and "nihil" (meaning nothing) combined with the suffix "-ator" (meaning one who). The word "annihilator" refers to one who brings something to nothing or destroys it completely.
Think of someone who brings things 'to nothing' ('nihil') — that's why an annihilator means someone who destroys.
No commonly confused words.