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

The administration's efforts had the potential to be especially disruptive in states like Washington and Oregon that send out ballots entirely by mail. — Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Also, First Amendment arguments run into problems when speech or conduct could be deemed disruptive. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Now, something similar is playing out in the brokerage industry as a result of another disruptive technology—blockchain—that is leading a growing number of companies to tokenize stocks. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026

Global energy markets have taken significant disruptive geopolitical hits in recent years. — Michael Khouw, CNBC, 14 Sep. 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