destructive

adjective

di-ˈstrək-tiv How to pronounce destructive (audio)
Definition of destructivenext
1
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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 Authorities did not report a destructive tsunami in the latest damage assessment. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 In it, Carson overlays Helen of Troy with Marilyn Monroe in order to explore the destructive power of beauty. — Amy Cannon, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026 The storm is expected to make landfall in the western part of the Florida Panhandle or Alabama late Friday or early Saturday — bringing dangerous and destructive impacts. — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Maybe someone with the right privileges could perform a factory reset or another destructive action, for example. — David Bennett, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
  1. devastating
  2. disastrous
  3. fatal
  4. unfortunate
  5. catastrophic
Adjective
  • That status quo has been marked by a drumbeat of devastating fires in recent years and increasing worries about more in the future.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The moment when the couple’s infant child is taken from them by the authorities is devastating, each of them capturing a sense of helpless isolation from themselves, their community and each other.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • In part, this is a story about the short-term desperation of Republicans in the face of midterms that seem set to be disastrous.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Formed in the aftermath of a disastrous mountain war with China in 1962, the ITBP operates in some of the most inhospitable terrain on Earth.
    — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Independent media outlets like Baikal People reported that the fatal chain of events began on September 25.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Chicago Alderman Michelle Harris said at Sunday's community vigil that the suspect had allegedly gotten into an altercation with staff at a wireless store in the Chatham neighborhood just before the fatal stabbing, WLS reported.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Choosing the most abject—or unfortunate—car names will never not be funny.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The timing was unfortunate for Saudi Arabia, several experts say.
    — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Writers in ancient Mesopotamia told several versions of a story in which the gods send a catastrophic flood but warn one man, who then builds a large boat to save his family and animals.
    — Eric Vanden Eykel, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The film stars Cruise as an aging oil tycoon whose drilling operations trigger a catastrophic climate change disaster.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of catastrophic

Browse Nearby Words

destructions
destructive
desuetude
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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