Do persons who write that a clever saying has "destroyed" another actually believe something of import has been accomplished?

I often read in popular culture that one person has said something cleverly disdainful of another and has “destroyed” the other.

Do they think this is meaningful? Do they think something has been accomplished by this act of wit?

I read this most often in relation to tweets about persons in power.

Do people really believe that a piece of ridicule limited to 145 characters will make a difference in the face of power?