making light of; afire with annihilating invective; a devastating portrait of human folly; to compliments inflated Ive a withering reply- W.S.Gilbert

[ Syn: annihilating , withering ]

wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; possessing annihilative power; a devastating hurricane; the guns opened a withering fire

[ Syn: annihilative , annihilating , withering ]

physically or spiritually devastating; often used in combination; a crushing blow; a crushing rejection; bone-crushing

[ Syn: crushing ]