Wave that is destructive always lingering initially (5)
I believe the answer is:
tidal
'wave' is the definition.
(tidal wave is a kind of wave)
'that is destructive always lingering initially' is the wordplay.
'initially' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'that is destructive always lingering' is 'TIDAL'.
(Other definitions for tidal that I've seen before include "To do with movement of seas" , "Ebbing and flooding" , "Going back and forth" , "Like waves" , "subject to regular surges" .)