as in creative
having a role in deciding something's final form
his experiences as an exchange student played a constructive part in the course that his life would take
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Recent Examples of constructive
The constructive version of the Sphinx is the Socratic one.
—
Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
From heating food quickly to baking delicious cakes, the microwave oven is used for a constructive purpose by millions today, far from the destructive intentions for which its technology was invented.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
With a sharp feel for political arithmetic and a slightly geeky approach to strategy, Hill-Lewis has cultivated constructive relationships with key figures in the ANC leadership, helped along by a personable, pragmatic style that plays well across party lines.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But there's a clear line between constructive debate and behavior that's obstructionist.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constructive
Big Think, 5 Feb. 2026
From heating food quickly to baking delicious cakes, the microwave oven is used for a constructive purpose by millions today, far from the destructive intentions for which its technology was invented.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Feb. 2026
With a sharp feel for political arithmetic and a slightly geeky approach to strategy, Hill-Lewis has cultivated constructive relationships with key figures in the ANC leadership, helped along by a personable, pragmatic style that plays well across party lines.
—Sam Mkokeli, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
But there's a clear line between constructive debate and behavior that's obstructionist.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for constructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for constructive
Adjective
-
The bear that rips the plastic bass to shreds is AI-generated, said Nathan Monteith, the executive creative director at Highdive.—
Liam Rappleye,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Be creative, entrepreneurial and open to new experiences and professional networks while continuing to clarify your interests, purpose, and goals.—
Micki Meyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Workers were encouraged to improve their health in order to be more productive at their jobs and make more money for their employers.—
Annie Levin,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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Being productive in a factory means handling parts carefully and quickly.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Constructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/constructive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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