torpedoing

Verb

torpedo (third-person singular simple present torpedoes or torpedos, present participle torpedoing, simple past and past participle torpedoed)

1. (transitive) To strike (a ship) with one or more torpedoes.
2. (transitive) To sink (a ship) with one or more torpedoes.
   • The anti-German riots which erupted simultaneously in many countries in response to the torpedoing of the Lusitania by a German U-boat in 1915 reflected shifts in the status of minorities in multi-ethnic societies at a time of escalating nationalist emotions.2013 November, Tilman Dedering, “‘Avenge the Lusitania’: The Anti-German Riots in South Africa in 1915”, in Immigrants & Minorities, volume 31, number 3, →DOI, pages 256–288
3. (figuratively, transitive) To undermine or destroy any endeavor with a powerful attack.
   • The left-back had been a selection concern because of an injury niggle but his first goal since last March swung this derby decisively in United’s favour, extending their club record unbeaten run away from home in the Premier League to 22 games and torpedoing City’s sequence of 21 straight wins in...2021 March 7, David Hytner, “Manchester United catch City cold as Fernandes and Shaw end winning run”, in The Guardian

See all 18 meanings of torpedo