DEVASTATING

[adjective]If the bomb had exploded in the main shopping area, it would have been devastating.The team's hopes of winning the championship suffered a devastating blow last night, when they were defeated in the second round.The drought has had devastating consequences/effects.We just heard the devastating news about her son's death.Devastating is sometimes used of people's qualities to mean that they have a great effect.She had a devastating beauty/charm/smile that few men could resist.Oscar Wilde was a writer famous in his day for his devastating wit.