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View synonyms for

destructive

[ dih-struhk-tiv ]

adjective

  1. tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often followed by of or to ):

    a very destructive windstorm.

    Synonyms: ,

    Antonyms:

  2. tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit ( constructive ):

    destructive criticism.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:



destructive

/ dɪˈstrʌktɪv; ˌdiːstrʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ /

adjective

  1. oftenpostpositive and foll by of or to causing or tending to cause the destruction (of)
  2. intended to disprove or discredit, esp without positive suggestions or help; negative Compare constructive

    destructive criticism

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈٰܳپ, adverb
  • ˈٰܳپԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ٰܳt· adverb
  • ·ٰܳt·Ա ·ٰܳ·پ··ٲ [dee-struhk-, tiv, -i-tee], noun
  • t··ٰܳt adjective
  • inter··ٰܳt· adverb
  • inter··ٰܳt·Ա noun
  • ԴDzd·ٰܳt adjective
  • non·ٰܳt· adverb
  • non·ٰܳt·Ա noun
  • v··ٰܳt adjective
  • over··ٰܳt· adverb
  • over··ٰܳt·Ա noun
  • i··ٰܳt adjective
  • ܲd·ٰܳt adjective
  • un·ٰܳt· adverb
  • un·ٰܳt·Ա noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of destructive1

First recorded in 1480–90; from Middle French, from Late Latin ŧٰܳīܲ, from Latin ŧٰܳ(ܲ) “demolished, torn down” ( destruction ) + -īܲ -ive
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Through Joe’s raw inner monologue, "You" challenged us to empathize with a man fighting a losing battle with his sanity, and confronted the reality of being open and honest with destructive thoughts.

From

Israel's destructive military campaign in Gaza has released a silent killer: asbestos.

From

Months after the most destructive wildfire in modern Los Angeles history, Mayor Karen Bass is seeking to add scores of new employees to the Fire Department, even as an array of other agencies face layoffs.

From

"Underwater volcanoes are capable of really big, really destructive eruptions," she says.

From

The possibility that an idle, unconnected transmission line somehow reengerized on Jan. 7 is now “a leading hypothesis” for what started the destructive Eaton fire.

From

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destructionistdestructive competition