annihilating
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Utterly destructive or devastating: Describing something that causes complete and total destruction, obliteration, or defeat.
- Severely critical or scornful: Describing a remark, criticism, or expression that is so harsh, dismissive, or contemptuous that it metaphorically destroys its target.
Examples of Usage
- Adjective:
- The general ordered an annihilating bombardment of the enemy positions. (This describes an attack intended to cause total destruction.)
- She responded with an annihilating critique of the flawed research paper. (This describes a criticism so severe it demolishes the paper's arguments.)
- The hurricane had annihilating force, leaving nothing but rubble. (This describes a natural force capable of complete devastation.)
Advanced Usage
- "Annihilating fire/power/force": Military or descriptive language for overwhelming destructive capability.
- The battleship's main guns delivered annihilating fire.
- "Annihilating look/glare/reply/criticism": Used figuratively to describe a verbal or non-verbal response that is utterly destructive to a person's argument, reputation, or confidence.
- His annihilating glare silenced the room.
- The reviewer wrote an annihilating takedown of the novel.
Variants and Related Words
- Annihilate (verb): To destroy utterly; to obliterate.
- The virus can annihilate the body's immune cells.
- Annihilation (noun): The act of annihilating or the state of being annihilated; total destruction.
- The treaty aimed to prevent the nuclear annihilation of cities.
- Annihilative (adjective): Synonymous with "annihilating" in its destructive sense.
- The weapon's annihilative potential was terrifying.
Synonyms
- Devastating: Causing severe shock, distress, or damage.
- Withering: Intended to make someone feel humiliated or scorned.
- Destructive: Causing great and irreparable harm or damage.
- Obliterating: Destroying completely so as to leave no trace.
Related Phrases
- "To be annihilating in one's criticism": To criticize in a manner that leaves no room for defense or rebuttal.
- The professor was annihilating in his criticism of the student's thesis.
- "Annihilating defeat/victory": A victory or defeat that is so complete the losing side is effectively destroyed or rendered powerless.
- The team suffered an annihilating defeat, losing 10-0.
Adjective
- making light of
- afire with annihilating invective
- a devastating portrait of human folly
- to compliments inflated I've a withering reply- W.S.Gilbert
- wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
- possessing annihilative power
- a devastating hurricane
- the guns opened a withering fire