Definition

1. 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

1. making light of
   • afire with annihilating invective
   • a devastating portrait of human folly
   • to compliments inflated I've a withering reply- W.S.Gilbert
2. wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction
   • possessing annihilative power
   • a devastating hurricane
   • the guns opened a withering fire