constructive

[ kuhn-struhk-tiv ]

adjective

1. helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement ( destructive ):

   constructive criticism.

   Synonyms: useful, handy, helpful, productive

2. of, relating to, or of the nature of construction; structural.
3. deduced by inference or interpretation; inferential:

   constructive permission.

4. Law. denoting an act or condition not directly expressed but inferred from other acts or conditions.

constructive

/ kənˈstrʌktɪv /

adjective

1. serving to build or improve; positive

   constructive criticism

2. law deduced by inference or construction; not expressed but inferred
3. law having a deemed legal effect

   constructive notice

4. See structural
   another word for structural

Derived Forms

• conˈstructively, adverb
• conˈstructiveness, noun

Other Words From

• con·structive·ly adverb
• con·structive·ness noun
• noncon·structive adjective
• noncon·structive·ly adverb
• noncon·structive·ness noun
• quasi-con·structive adjective
• quasi-con·structive·ly adverb
• uncon·structive adjective
• uncon·structive·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of constructive¹

1670–80; < Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent to Latin constrūct(us) ( construct ) + īvus -ive

Example Sentences

The disconnect between the “woke” and angry rhetoric of activist mobs keeping CEOs up at night, and these constructive, nuanced discussions could not have been more striking.

From Quartz

We believe that with constructive dialog and cooperation, a solution is within reach.

From Quartz

It talks about a lot of the problems that we have now in terms of being able to have a constructive conversation.

From Ozy

Likewise, China’s commerce ministry said the two sides held a “constructive dialogue” and agreed to “create conditions” to implement the trade deal.

From Fortune

June, we have held constructive conversations with Facebook to clearly outline the areas where we want to see tangible changes.

From Digiday

To do this, we need to be openly constructive, positive and ethical.

From The Daily Beast

Constructive criticism is different from people just being dicks, and I love constructive criticism.

From The Daily Beast

Reformers understood that constructive societal evolution was the antidote to socialist revolution.

From The Daily Beast

On Monday, European Union countries condemned the air strikes and called for a ceasefire and “constructive dialogue.”

From The Daily Beast

“We have since begun a constructive dialogue with the committee on the redactions,” Price said.

From The Daily Beast

He saw now that her pain had not been as other pain; it was a constructive pain, a part of the task of her life.

From Project Gutenberg

With this clue to their meaning, it becomes possible to understand the main constructive proposals of the Majority Commissioners.

From Project Gutenberg

They did not think politics was a great constructive process, they thought it was a kind of dog-fight.

From Project Gutenberg

The great constructive process in history gives so little scope for clapping and drumming and saying "'Ear, 'ear!"

From Project Gutenberg

I would listen to a stormy sea of babblement, and try to extract some constructive intimations.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• effective
• positive
• practical
• productive
• useful
• valuable