🧩 To break up 💥 To destroy completely 💧 To spray finely

to atomize

1 9.2

To destroy a place with very powerful weapons like bombs

verb
/ˈætəˌmaɪz/

: aniquilar

In 15 seconds, everything within 20 yards of where we're standing will be atomized.

Examples

So like, not only was Japan, you know, atomized, but Europe, good guys and bad guys, was bombed into ruin.
After all, you may not have prevented Dr. Nefarious from atomizing Aleero City.

Ratchet & Clank (2016)
The victims are atomized and scattered.

Blog text (22)
Plastic in two-pound blocks, sixteen pounds more or less, enough to atomize this plane...

Fiction book (1996)
CAMERA PULLS BACK from a stunned Ash, amidst the atomized pieces of iron and bone.

Fiction book (1992)
So, one might naturally imagine that the temperature and radiation levels produced in a nuclear explosion would be the ultimate germicide, atomizing shallow-buried stockpiles of chemical agents before they could disperse into the environment.

Academic text (2003)
The bomb exploded, atomizing the surrounding buildings into debris.
He was warned that a single strike could atomize the entire area, leaving nothing behind.
When the device detonated, it atomized everything within a mile radius.

Synonyms

to blast

vsto atomize

137 4.9

To break rock or walls using explosives to make an opening

stresses complete reduction into tiny particles rather than making an opening

to shred

vsto atomize

112 2.6

To tear something into small thin pieces

focuses on violent impact that breaks matter into tiny particles not strips

to shatter

vsto atomize

72 2.8

To break suddenly into many small pieces, like glass

describes breaking that reaches a much smaller particle level after weapon impact

to obliterate

vsto atomize

71 7.5

To destroy something completely so nothing remains

focuses on scattering or fragmenting remains into tiny particles

to annihilate

vsto atomize

NSFW

63 7.5

To destroy completely, often killing many people

stresses violent breaking into tiny fragments by powerful weapons

to tear up

vsto atomize

39 2.7

To rip something into small pieces

describes explosive fragmentation reaching particle size beyond simple tearing

to vaporize

vsto atomize

NSFW

33 7.7

To destroy something completely as if by a powerful weapon

focuses on force that smashes matter into fragments rather than making it vanish

to incinerate

vsto atomize

33 7.1

To burn things like documents or waste until they turn to ash

involves forceful destruction that shatters matter into particles rather than burning to ash

to nuke

vsto atomize

Informal

32 7.4

To destroy something completely, often using a nuclear bomb

focuses on reducing targets to small particles rather than mere obliteration

to disintegrate

vsto atomize

Specialized

29 6.0

Break into smaller parts by losing energy in a physical process, for example in an atom

usually implies violent force that breaks matter into tiny particles not slow decay

to zap

vsto atomize

NSFW

17 6.0

To hit and destroy a person or thing suddenly, often using electricity

focuses on powerful explosive force that crushes matter into tiny particles

to demolish

vsto atomize

15 4.2

Completely destroy an idea, argument, or reputation

is more about violent physical fragmentation into particles rather than abstract ruin

to pulverize

vsto atomize

15 7.6

To destroy something completely so nothing is left

highlights breaking apart into very small particles by explosive impact

to dynamite

vsto atomize

6 5.1

To blow up something using a strong explosive used to break rock

focuses on forceful fragmentation into small particles by powerful weapons

to smash up

vsto atomize

Informal

5 4.7

To damage something very badly so it breaks into pieces

stresses destruction that reduces remains into microscopic particles by high energy

to fragmentize

vsto atomize

8.2

To break something into many small pieces

means more violent, weapon driven breaking down to very fine particles

Antonyms

to construct

201 3.5

To build something by joining parts or materials

How Destroyed

to annihilate

NSFW

63 7.5

to atomize

1 9.2

to destroy

∞ 1.0

to damage

885 1.4

Surface Forms

atomize infinitive

atomized past

atomized past participle

atomizing present participle

atomizes third person singular

Morphology

atomize = atom (semi-transparent) = atom + ize

The literal morphological formation is clear, but this sense is a metaphorical extension (to obliterate or reduce to tiny fragments), which is a specialized/figurative usage learners may not infer directly.

Etymology

Atomize comes from Greek atomos ('not cut') and the word atom also became known with the powerful atom bomb, so the verb can be used to mean 'destroy into tiny fragments' by force.