disruptive

[dis-ruhp-tiv]

adjective

1. causing, tending to cause, or caused by disruption; disrupting.

   the disruptive effect of their rioting.

2. Business.

   1. relating to or noting a new product, service, or idea that radically changes an industry or business strategy, especially by creating a new market and disrupting an existing one.

      disruptive innovations such as the cell phone and the two-year community college.

   2. relating to or noting a business executive or company that introduces or is receptive to such innovation.

      disruptive CEOs with imagination and vision.

disruptive

/ dɪsˈrʌptɪv /

adjective

1. involving, causing, or tending to cause disruption

Other Word Forms

• disruptively adverb
• disruptiveness noun
• nondisruptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disruptive¹

First recorded in 1835–45; disrupt + -ive

Example Sentences

“Wall Street has learned layoffs can be very disruptive and if deal activity picks up, then you can be caught flat-footed.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

It can make it harder for disruptive ideas to break the mould, she added.

Read more on BBC

Among these, stress plays a particularly disruptive role.

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“This all depends on how disruptive the fire will be to production,” he said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I was eager to see how criminals make these shady deals with potentially treacherous employees at a time when cyber-attacks around the world are becoming more impactful and disruptive to everyday life.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• disturbing 
• rowdy 
• troublesome 
• unruly 
• upsetting