destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv 
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of destructive in a Sentence
It was one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.
She argued that the law was destructive of personal liberties.
The school is concerned about the destructive behavior of a few students.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the face of fringe activists dominating media coverage, this hate speech and destructive rhetoric require a firm response from people of goodwill.
—
Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024
This was his focus now: people’s destructive thought patterns and ways to break out of them.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 June 2024
All is not quiet on the marital front as the wife asks for a divorce and the couple next descends into a destructive cycle that not only includes infidelity and neglect but spins into murder, a tentacled alien creature and doppelgangers.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2024
None of this seems to hurt him with voters, who appear to welcome this destructive, radical extremism, or at least not to mind it.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for destructive 
Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024
This was his focus now: people’s destructive thought patterns and ways to break out of them.
—Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 June 2024
All is not quiet on the marital front as the wife asks for a divorce and the couple next descends into a destructive cycle that not only includes infidelity and neglect but spins into murder, a tentacled alien creature and doppelgangers.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 June 2024
None of this seems to hurt him with voters, who appear to welcome this destructive, radical extremism, or at least not to mind it.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 11 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for destructive
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'destructive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destructive. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
a destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
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