withering

Tending to overwhelm or destroy; devastating.

Blasting; blighting; scorching.

The act or process denoted by the verb wither; specifically, in the manufacture of black tea, the operation of wilting the fresh leaf by exposing it, thinly spread, for some time to the air. Withering expels half the water from the leaf and fits it to endure rolling (which see) without breaking, also developing oxidation. See black tea.

Tending to wither; causing to shrink or fade.

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