destructive
Americanadjective
-
tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often followed by of orto ).
a very destructive windstorm.
- Synonyms:
- deleterious, ruinous
- Antonyms:
- creative
-
tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit (opposed to constructive).
destructive criticism.
- Synonyms:
- negative, adverse, unfavorable
- Antonyms:
- constructive
adjective
-
causing or tending to cause the destruction (of)
-
intended to disprove or discredit, esp without positive suggestions or help; negative Compare constructive
destructive criticism
Other Word Forms
-
destructivenessnoun
-
destructivitynoun
-
interdestructivenessnoun
-
nondestructivenessnoun
-
overdestructivenessnoun
-
undestructivenessnoun
-
interdestructiveadjective
-
nondestructiveadjective
-
overdestructiveadjective
-
semidestructiveadjective
-
undestructiveadjective
-
destructivelyadverb
-
interdestructivelyadverb
-
nondestructivelyadverb
-
overdestructivelyadverb
-
undestructivelyadverb
Etymology
Origin of destructive
First recorded in 1480–90; from Middle French, from Late Latin dēstructīvus, from Latin dēstruct(us) “demolished, torn down” ( see destruction) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
If something causes a lot of damage, you can talk about its destructive force or power. Something is destructive when it really messes things up. The word destructive comes from the Latin destruere which means literally to unbuild. In addition to describing a storm or battle, the word can be used for the things people say as well as do. If your mother's comments about your weight cause you to eat more bon bons, you could say that her remarks were destructive to your diet.
Vocabulary lists containing destructive
Latin Love, Vol I: struere
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Ocean Storm Alert!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
George's Key to the Universe, Lessons 1–5
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Researchers have uncovered a hidden feature beneath the Pacific Ocean that helps explain why Japan's devastating 2011 earthquake and tsunami became so destructive.
From Science Daily • Jul. 5, 2026
The NWS considers super typhoons to have the equivalent destructive potential as a category four or five hurricane.
From BBC • Jul. 5, 2026
The Palisades fire and Eaton fire, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in the Altadena suburb of Los Angeles, are among the most destructive and deadly wildfires in state history.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026
A mistrial was declared Friday in the federal trial of a 30-year-old former Uber driver accused of setting what would become the destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026
“What if the rascal’s a bit wild now and then? Noisy and destructive, like a young pup, what? How would you feel about that?”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
