godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Physical violence: hitting someone so hard they fall or are badly beaten.
彼は相手を打ちのめして試合に勝った。
He knocked his opponent down and won the match.
godan verb (-su), transitive verb
Figurative: dealing a crushing blow emotionally, mentally, or in competition; leaving someone unable to recover.
その知らせは彼を打ちのめした。
The news devastated him.
チームは決勝で打ちのめされた。
The team was crushed in the finals.