Nearby Words
adjective
1.
tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often followed by of or to): a very destructive windstorm.
2.
tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit (opposed to constructive): destructive criticism.
Origin:
1480–90; < Middle French < Late Latin dēstructīvus, equivalent to Latin dēstruct(us) (see destruction) + -īvus -ive
1480–90; < Middle French < Late Latin dēstructīvus, equivalent to Latin dēstruct(us) (see destruction) + -īvus -ive
Related forms
de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
in·ter·de·struc·tive, adjective
in·ter·de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
in·ter·de·struc·tive·ness, noun
EXPANDnon·de·struc·tive, adjective
non·de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
non·de·struc·tive·ness, noun
o·ver·de·struc·tive, adjective
o·ver·de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
o·ver·de·struc·tive·ness, noun
sem·i·de·struc·tive, adjective
un·de·struc·tive, adjective
un·de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
un·de·struc·tive·ness, noun
COLLAPSESynonyms
1. ruinous, deleterious. 2. unfavorable, adverse, negative.
1. ruinous, deleterious. 2. unfavorable, adverse, negative.
Antonyms
1. creative. 2. constructive.
1. creative. 2. constructive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
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Destructive
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
Example Sentences
- But controversy can also be destructive to learning and to perceptions of a museum's integrity.
- Students don't post constructive criticism in these forums, they post destructive criticism.
- It is a question of how destructive of his life you wish to be.
Collins
World English Dictionary
| destructive (dɪˈstrʌktɪv) | |
| —adj (often postpositive | |
| 1. | causing or tending to cause the destruction (of) |
| 2. | Compare constructive intended to disprove or discredit, esp without positive suggestions or help; negative: destructive criticism |
| de'structively | |
| —adv | |
| de'structiveness | |
| —n | |
| destructivity | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
destructive
late 15c., from O.Fr. destructif (14c.), from L. destructivus, from destruct-, pp. stem of destruere (see destroy).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Word Dynamo Rating For Destructive
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