disruptive

adjective

dis·​rup·​tive dis-ˈrəp-tiv 

: disrupting or tending to disrupt some process, activity, condition, etc. : causing or tending to cause disruption

a disruptive weather pattern

It is hoped that, if the child learns that disruptive behavior brings no rewards, his tantrums will diminish and perhaps stop.

—Susan Sheehan

In recent years, airlines began to carry plastic handcuffs as a way to restrain disruptive passengers.

—Erik Holm

Other teammates marvel at how easily he morphs from a mild-mannered family man in the locker room into a disruptive force on the field.

—Jefri Chadiha

disruptively adverb

acting disruptively

disruptiveness noun

… the disruptiveness of climatic change will depend strongly on the rate of change.

—Roger Revelle

Examples of disruptive in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Harrower was charged July 6, 2023, with four misdemeanors: entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2024

An elated Tracee Ellis Ross was welcomed to the stage by her longtime stylist and fellow entrepreneur, Karla Welch, to receive recognition for her disruptive multi-million dollar beauty business, Pattern. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2024

Democrats believed that repealing the rules would lead to disruptive throttling of internet traffic. —Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 3 Apr. 2024

Related Articles Buffer zones outside a Bay Area Planned Parenthood haven’t quelled disruptive protest. —Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024

Inconsistent access to treatment can be very disruptive – and dangerous – for people with ADHD, experts say. —Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 2 Apr. 2024

China’s automakers are piling in to take advantage of Tesla Inc.’s recent price hike and defend against Xiaomi Corp.’s disruptive market entry, offering sweeteners such as subsidies and coupons to lure would-be car buyers. —Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 1 Apr. 2024

Psychiatrists and geriatricians who treat dementia, and the psychologists, nurses, social workers and others who support them, are invaluable to families struggling to manage a dementia patient’s disruptive and sometimes violent behavior. —Maria J Silveira, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2024

Wang suggested that, if anything, a Biden defeat may be preferable to Beijing, given Trump’s record of disruptive, unpredictable diplomacy. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

disruptive

adjective

dis·​rup·​tive dis-ˈrəp-tiv 

: characterized by psychologically disorganized behavior

a confused, incoherent, and disruptive patient in the manic phase