crushing

He wisely resolved to be particularly careful that no sign of admiration should _now_ escape him--nothing that could elevate her with the hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that, if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day must have material weight in confirming or crushing it.

“It would strike him that in disappearing he might throw all pursuit off his track, and at the same time have an ample and crushing revenge upon his old sweetheart, if he could give the impression that he had been murdered by her only child.

It is crushing the nut with the triphammer—an absurd extravagance of energy—but the nut is very effectually crushed all the same.”

He was always so proud of the efficiency of his department, and this was a crushing blow.”