disruptive

American  

[dis-ruhp-tiv] / dɪsˈrʌp tɪv /

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.

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disruptive British  

/ dɪsˈrʌptɪv /

adjective

1. involving, causing, or tending to cause disruption

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Other Word Forms

• disruptively adverb
• disruptiveness noun
• nondisruptive adjective

Etymology

Origin of disruptive

First recorded in 1835–45; disrupt + -ive

Example Sentences

She froze in her seat, eyes darting from side to side, before she ascended the stage to accept the award for her disruptive album, Cowboy Carter - the trophy bestowed upon her by country-darling-turned-crossover-superstar Taylor Swift.

From BBC

The explosion of AI could prove even more disruptive to a business rooted in the creative labor of humans with non-replicable skills.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s unclear how the disruptive competition will play out.

From Barron's

Maybe something that is structured so it isn’t as disruptive to families and that better harnesses private capital, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We view technical setbacks and short-term disruptive factors for example weather-related flight cancellations in North America, as entry opportunities given the intact medium-term upside potential,” he adds.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disturbing
• rowdy
• troublesome
• unruly
• upsetting