constructive

adjective

con·​struc·​tive kən-ˈstrək-tiv 

1

: declared such by judicial construction or interpretation

constructive fraud

2

: of or relating to construction or creation

3

: promoting improvement or development

constructive criticism

constructively adverb

constructiveness noun

Synonyms

• creative
• productive

Examples of constructive in a Sentence

I tried to offer constructive criticism.

Your feedback was not very constructive.

The program helps people recently released from prison figure out how they can play a constructive role in society.

Recent Examples on the Web

If growth stabilizes into early 2026, the back end may prove stickier, creating mild steepening constructive for financials (net-interest margins) and for cyclicals with heavy short-term funding needs. —Robert Daugherty, Forbes.com, 29 Oct. 2025

This brutal honesty isn’t always possible in every team, and, of course, any criticism should still be constructive in substance and form. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025

Campbell was constructive about rideshare supply dynamics, given solid and stable driver economics, Mahaney noted. —Tipranks.com Staff, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2025

These goodfaith efforts with Canadian officials have not led to any constructive progress. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for constructive

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

Kids Definition

constructive

adjective

con·​struc·​tive kən-ˈstrək-tiv 

: helping to develop or improve something

constructive suggestions

constructively adverb

constructiveness noun

Legal Definition

constructive

adjective

con·​struc·​tive kən-ˈstrək-tiv 

: created by a legal fiction: as

a

: inferred by a judicial construction or interpretation

b

: not actual but implied by operation of the law

made a constructive entry when he refused to take the opportunity for a voluntary departure

—Harvard Law Review

compare actual

constructively adverb