DESTRUCTIVE Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

destructive

adjective

di-ˈstrək-tiv

Definition of destructive

as in devastating

causing or tending to cause destruction the destructive storm blew down trees all over town, and blew the roof off our neighbor's house

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune technology used for destructive ends

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of destructive Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, but some of its most destructive impacts occurred hundreds of miles inland across the southern Appalachians. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2026 Skeptics note the American AI industry faces steep hurdles to gaining sufficient computing abilities to give its technology the power needed for truly destructive behavior. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026 When that happens, personal history can override sound judgement and lead to impulsive or destructive decisions. — Jan Gerber, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 The development of cutting-edge, non-destructive techniques has been helping to unlock those secrets, aiding conservation efforts. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for destructive

Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive

Adjective

These are the glimmers of something in the fringes that keep The Cherry Orchard, even in our age of jonesing to burn it all down, so miraculously delicate and devastating.

— Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026
The survival thriller, directed by David Ayer, follows a Special Forces officer and his combat dog who, after a devastating plane crash, get stranded deep in the Alaskan wilderness.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of devastating

Adjective

The agency might even take the opportunity to completely redesign the disastrous Ashland, Armitage and Elston Avenue intersection and save generations of Chicagoans the headache of spending 15 minutes navigating through a single stoplight.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Where his focus has been following the Dolphins’ special team unit’s disastrous performance in Miami’s 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders is patching the leaks that led to three massive returns to the Raiders and a missing a field-goal attempt.

— Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of disastrous

Adjective

After 16 months of radiation and chemotherapy, a September 2025 scan showed the cancer had spread to his spinal cord, a condition called leptomeningeal disease that usually proves fatal within a few months.

— Arthur Allen, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
None of the 10 students riding to Wyandotte High School on Monday morning were injured when gunfire struck their school bus during a fatal dispute.

— Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of fatal

Adjective

One of these evils had the mass murder of civilians as its intended goal; the other claims that its victims are unfortunate accidents.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
But those who get too close risk far more than a soaking, as Niagara is a graveyard for the reckless, the unfortunate and the desperate.

— Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Adjective

An ugly game-ending arm injury suffered by Washington starting quarterback Jayden Daniels on the final play of the first half, which caused Fox Sports analyst Tom Brady to curse on air, had a catastrophic effect on the Commanders’ chances.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Sep. 2026
These findings meaningfully raise the odds of either a massive settlement and licensing deal or, failing that, a Times victory at trial that would be catastrophic for the defendants and enormously remunerative for the plaintiff.

— Michael Khouw, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

destructions

destructive

desuetude

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of destructive

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compendious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes