destructive
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.
Origin of destructive
1Other words for destructive
Opposites for destructive
Other words from destructive
- de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
- de·struc·tive·ness, de·struc·tiv·i·ty [dee-struhk-tiv-i-tee], /ˌdi strʌkˈtɪv ɪ ti/, noun
- in·ter·de·struc·tive, adjective
- in·ter·de·struc·tive·ly, adverb
- in·ter·de·struc·tive·ness, noun
- non·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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for destructive
/ (dɪˈstrʌktɪv) /
(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; negative: destructive criticism Compare constructive (def. 1)
Derived forms of destructive
- destructively, adverb
- destructiveness 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
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