annihilating

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annihilating

The critic delivered an annihilating review of the play.

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.
annihilating

The critic delivered an annihilating review of the play.

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