definitions

destructive

[ dih-struhk-tiv ]
/ dɪˈstrʌk tɪv /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR destructive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often followed by of or to): a very destructive windstorm.
tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit (opposed to constructive): destructive criticism.

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RELATED WORDS

rampage, disturbance, brutality, clash, confusion, assault, fighting, cruelty, attack, struggle, disorder, bloodshed, terrorism, hostility, aggressiveness, accident, mortality, casualty, disaster, fury

Nearby words

destroying angel, destruct, destructible, destruction, destructionist, destructive, destructive competition, destructive distillation, destructive interference, destructo, destructor

Origin of destructive

1480–90; < Middle French < Late Latin dēstructīvus, equivalent to Latin dēstruct(us) (see destruction) + -īvus -ive

Related forms

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for destructiveness

British Dictionary definitions for destructiveness

destructive

/ (dɪˈstrʌktɪv) /

adjective

(often postpositive and foll by of or to) causing or tending to cause the destruction (of)
intended to disprove or discredit, esp without positive suggestions or help; negativedestructive criticism Compare constructive (def. 1)

Derived Forms

destructively, adverbdestructiveness or destructivity (ˌdiːstrʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ), noun
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