1
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
the destructive storm blew down trees all over town, and blew the roof off our neighbor's house
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
technology used for destructive ends
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destructive
Los Angeles County's Palisades and Eaton fires that erupted that day are among California's most destructive on record, in terms of structures destroyed.
—
Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
The wildfires raging in Los Angeles have scorched an area larger than the size of Paris and two are already the most destructive in Southern California history.
—Matt Friedman, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Zooey revealed in an Instagram post on Friday, Jan. 17, that her and Emily’s childhood home in the Pacific Palisades, Calif., was burned down by the destructive Palisades Fire.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Indeed, without American renewal there will be a crushing international depression and destructive chaos in the world.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for destructive 
Rebecca Falconer, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
The wildfires raging in Los Angeles have scorched an area larger than the size of Paris and two are already the most destructive in Southern California history.
—Matt Friedman, CNN, 19 Jan. 2025
Zooey revealed in an Instagram post on Friday, Jan. 17, that her and Emily’s childhood home in the Pacific Palisades, Calif., was burned down by the destructive Palisades Fire.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Indeed, without American renewal there will be a crushing international depression and destructive chaos in the world.
—Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Electrical equipment — transmission lines in particular — has been the source of some of the most devastating wildfires in California and across the country.—
Ivan Penn,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2025
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Almost two years ago, the BBC greenlit a three-part drama about the Grenfell Tower fire, a national tragedy in which 72 people perished in a devastating blaze at a London housing block.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Many in the comments could relate to roommate frustration, which often manifests in similar ways—as simple household tasks leading to disastrous misfires.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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Other threats of looting and burglary loom over Los Angeles County, after disastrous fires have devastated communities.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Follow more of our reporting on Wichita American Airlines plane crash in Washington, D.C. Local Teen figure skater ‘rocketing to the top of the sport’ and his mom killed in plane crash January 30, 2025 1:54 PM National How common are fatal crashes with military aircraft?—
Daniel Desrochers,
Kansas City Star,
30 Jan. 2025
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The last major fatal crash involving a U.S. commercial airline occured in 2009 near Buffalo, New York.—
LOLITA C. BALDOR,
TIME,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Metro Denver's office vacancy rate is reaching new — and unfortunate — highs.—
Esteban L. Hernandez,
Axios,
27 Jan. 2025
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Jeep so far wants to keep pricing for those lower-spec Wagoneer EVs under wraps, though, even if the heart of the run will undoubtedly help the first electric Jeep more effectively escape from unfortunate comparisons to such stiff competition.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Ars Technica,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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