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

Constantly cycling through new productivity systems creates that disruptive variability. —Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

As major powers race to deploy them, AI drone swarms are emerging as one of the most disruptive forces in modern warfare. —Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026

The board also charged Page with unprofessional and unethical conduct by committing disruptive behavior through a pattern of contentious, threatening, or intractable behavior that could interfere with patient care or the effective functioning of health care staff. —Clark Kauffman, Des Moines Register, 28 Jan. 2026

The Bulletin continues to manage the clock, its timing is decided by the Science and Security Board, a group of experts focused on nuclear risk, climate change and disruptive technologies, according to the website. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disruptive

• eruptive

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