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 of destructive

• devastating
• disastrous
• devastative

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 1966, the banks of the Arno river burst, causing the most destructive flood Florence had ever experienced. — Bella Webb, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2026

Her restaurant's cameras caught a lone man on the nearly three-hour destructive rampage beginning just after midnight. — CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

The first atmospheric river to hit the Southwest this season dumped up to five times the average rain for November in parts of the region, triggering destructive flooding for the second consecutive month. — Suheir Hashimeh, Washington Post, 2 Nov. 2026

Sunday evening’s crest there was nearly 2 feet higher than the destructive flooding on October 23. — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing destructive

• destructive distillation
• self-destructive

Rhymes for destructive

• abductive
• conductive
• constructive
• deductive
• inductive
• instructive
• obstructive
• productive
• reductive
• seductive
• counterproductive
• photoconductive

Kids 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