disruptive

adjective

dis·​rup·​tive dis-ˈrəp-tiv How to pronounce disruptive (audio)
: 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 By 2018, Renaud had developed the blade resonator—a totally disruptive innovation to replace the traditional sprung balance—and debuted it in the DR01 TWELVE FIRST watch. Cait Bazemore, Robb Report, 18 Mar. 2024 Any major strike during the Games could be highly disruptive. Annabelle Timsit, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 Under his rule, criminal gangs have gone largely unchecked, and in the past week, their murderous and disruptive activity has produced an unignorable security crisis. Amy Wilentz, The Atlantic, 7 Mar. 2024 Extreme or repetitive disruptive behavior, in the sole judgment of the Library staff, may result in immediate expulsion from the Library. Nancy Cutler, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 Use of drones at nest sites are strictly prohibited, as they are considered extremely disruptive to the nesting pair. Jim Riccioli, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 None of this is meant to dismiss the disruptive power of electric cars or AI. Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Much as the internet and global connectivity sparked an explosion of innovation, AI and machine learning are beginning to reveal their disruptive potential. David Rothschild, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Residents and some academics have said that the disruptive noise caused by helicopters circling overhead can cause serious health consequences, including poor sleep and anxiety. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disruptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disruptive was in 1827

Dictionary Entries Near disruptive

Cite this Entry

“Disruptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disruptive. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

disruptive

adjective
dis·​rup·​tive dis-ˈrəp-tiv How to pronounce disruptive (audio)
: characterized by psychologically disorganized behavior
a confused, incoherent, and disruptive patient in the manic phase

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