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
Kenneth Bass, brother of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, has sued the city of Los Angeles after his home burned down in the destructive Palisades fire in 2025.
—
Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026
In his opening statement, a prosecutor told a federal jury on Wednesday that Jonathan Rinderknecht, driven by a desire for revenge against society, used a lighter to intentionally set what would eventually become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Police said the crowd got violent and destructive, and five NYPD members were injured.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The case is unusual compared to the slew of lawsuits over the past decade against utility companies for negligence that caused destructive and deadly wildfires, according to legal and environmental experts CNN spoke with.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Britta Miller, The Washington Examiner, 10 June 2026
In his opening statement, a prosecutor told a federal jury on Wednesday that Jonathan Rinderknecht, driven by a desire for revenge against society, used a lighter to intentionally set what would eventually become the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
Police said the crowd got violent and destructive, and five NYPD members were injured.
—Katie Houlis, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The case is unusual compared to the slew of lawsuits over the past decade against utility companies for negligence that caused destructive and deadly wildfires, according to legal and environmental experts CNN spoke with.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 9 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 23-year-old four-time All-American at Virginia struggled all day and came away with a disastrous round of 8-over-par 78 that left him at 2-under and in a tie for 59th, 11 shots off the pace set by Jackson Suber, who was at 13-under.—
Staff And Wire Reports,
Hartford Courant,
13 June 2026
Adjective
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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
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Under Brazilian law, the charge applies to cases in which someone engages in conduct that carries a fatal risk, even if there was no intent to kill, the outlet reported.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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The unfortunate reality is that credit card rates rise quickly but fall slowly.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Dec. 2025
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That’s especially unfortunate when the prior episode ended on a cliffhanger with a gang of armed and angry townspeople arriving at the Black Spot for Hank.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2025
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 17 Jun. 2026.
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