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. another word for structural

Other Word Forms

• constructiveness noun
• constructively adverb
• nonconstructive adjective
• nonconstructively adverb
• nonconstructiveness noun
• quasi-constructive adjective
• quasi-constructively adverb
• unconstructive adjective
• unconstructively adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of constructive¹

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

Example Sentences

He added that he hoped more countries would follow the U.K.’s “constructive negotiations.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Zelensky described the talks in the United States as "very constructive", adding that decisions would be taken on Ukraine's "further activities" once the delegation returning from there had been debriefed.

Read more on Barron's

"But everyone is trying to be constructive and find a solution," the source added.

Read more on BBC

“We await wider rollouts and evidence of commercialization before considering turning more constructive.”

Read more on Barron's

The setup remains constructive as long as shares hold above $97.

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Related Words

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