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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destructive
Those include machine guns, silencers, destructive devices, rifles with barrels under 16 inches, shotguns with barrels under 18 inches and firearms with an overall length under 26 inches.
—
Molly Parker, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Content creator Teva, whose mother reportedly owned the home, alleged in a series of TikTok videos that Von D caused a destructive house fire during her residence.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But what’s important is Haaland knows how to turn that edge on and off – using it to help the team, not as a destructive force.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Chief Justice Sue Carr said the group went far beyond staging non-violent demonstrations to launch destructive attacks on defense companies, banks, and a military base.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Molly Parker, CBS News, 16 June 2026
Content creator Teva, whose mother reportedly owned the home, alleged in a series of TikTok videos that Von D caused a destructive house fire during her residence.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 16 June 2026
But what’s important is Haaland knows how to turn that edge on and off – using it to help the team, not as a destructive force.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Chief Justice Sue Carr said the group went far beyond staging non-violent demonstrations to launch destructive attacks on defense companies, banks, and a military base.
—Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Our prayers continue for those in Congo who are facing this devastating epidemic and for the ongoing efforts to control the disease.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Charles Crinklaw is trying to process the devastating loss suffered when a plane full of skydivers crashed Sunday in Butler, Missouri, killing everyone aboard.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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This study marks the first to use that data to model climate as rising temperatures are expected to fuel more disastrous events, from marine heat waves that kill coral to droughts.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Sun Sentinel,
14 June 2026
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The next two decades were mostly disastrous.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
14 June 2026
Adjective
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Drug dealers mix fentanyl, because of its potency and low cost, with other drugs including heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine, which increases the likelihood of a fatal dose, according to the DEA.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
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Other fatal skydiving crashes in Missouri Sunday’s crash was at least the fourth deadly skydiving incident in Missouri since 1998.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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So that was just an unfortunate situation, but everything’s OK.—
Zach Dean,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
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Getting into a dispute with your neighbor is an unfortunate but all-too-common predicament for many homeowners.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 June 2026
Adjective
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For patients weighing the long-term implications of starting, stopping or cycling on and off these medications, the review suggests the metabolic stakes of regain may be less catastrophic than feared.—
Allison Palmer,
Kansas City Star,
11 June 2026
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Kenneth Bass is one of thousands of residents and business owners suing the city of Los Angeles and other entities over property loss and other damages suffered during the catastrophic Palisades fire.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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