Tending to overwhelm or destroy; devastating

withering sarcasm.

wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction; "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire"[syn: annihilative ]

making light of; "afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply"- W.S.Gilbert[syn: annihilating ]

any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)[syn: atrophy ]