crushing
n.n. making you feel extremely sad, disappointed, or defeated. It describes something so strong that it feels like it is physically pressing down on you.
n. causing overwhelming feelings of disappointment, grief, or humiliation. Often used to describe a defeat or a realization that destroys one's confidence or hope.
The team suffered a crushing defeat in the final minutes.
Losing his job after twenty years of service was a crushing blow to his self-esteem and financial security.
The documentary captures the crushing weight of poverty in rural communities, illustrating how systemic barriers can extinguish even the most resilient spirits over several generations.
By surface analysis, crush + -ing.
Typically used to modify nouns representing negative events like 'defeat', 'blow', 'poverty', or 'disappointment'.