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

For 20 years, global brands and retailers have been churning out high-low collaborations, capitalizing on the cultural cachet of luxury names and disruptive fashion newcomers. —Sophie Benson, Vogue, 28 May 2026

The economics are equally disruptive, lowering hard-rock mining costs to a level directly competitive with South American brine extraction. —Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 28 May 2026

These models are louder than others and could be disruptive when running at night. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

On the Near West Side, police arrested more than a dozen teens after a gathering turned disruptive. —Chicago Tribune, 28 May 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