withering

About 0.87 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Tending to destroy, devastate, overwhelm, or cause complete destruction.

   The D-Day troops came under withering fire.

2. adjective Diminishing rapidly.

   The playboy seemed oblivious to his withering fortune as he continued in his decadent lifestyle.

3. adjective Tending to make someone feel small; scornful in a mortifying way.

   Jane's mother in law gave her a withering look.

4. verb present participle and gerund of wither
5. noun The process by which something withers.

Similar words

destructive devastating annihilative disrespectful atrophy annihilating shrinking excruciating sere fordone

Often followed by

away of fire look and in scorn glance contempt

Word family

witheringly