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
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
The drugs brought on psychotic episodes that were destructive, and when his son was about 20, the family made the difficult decision to ask Sean to leave the house.
—
Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Ballistic weapons, like guns, deliver their full destructive potential on contact, while lasers need some time to do the damage.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
This is perfectly natural and, without some mechanism to redirect it, perfectly destructive.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
This leaves the mid-market trapped in a dangerous wasteland, forced into destructive promotional cycles to protect foot traffic without possessing the scale to survive thin margins.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
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Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 20 June 2026
Ballistic weapons, like guns, deliver their full destructive potential on contact, while lasers need some time to do the damage.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 20 June 2026
This is perfectly natural and, without some mechanism to redirect it, perfectly destructive.
—Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
This leaves the mid-market trapped in a dangerous wasteland, forced into destructive promotional cycles to protect foot traffic without possessing the scale to survive thin margins.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destructive. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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