\\\"afire with annihilating invective\\\"
\\\"a devastating portrait of human folly\\\"
\\\"to compliments inflated I\\\'ve a withering reply\\\"

\\\"possessing annihilative power\\\"
\\\"a devastating hurricane\\\"
\\\"the guns opened a withering fire\\\"

\\\"a crushing blow\\\"
\\\"a crushing rejection\\\"
\\\"bone-crushing\\\"