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

Relevance

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 In March 1948, central Oklahoma was inundated with destructive tornadoes -- two of which struck the Tinker Air Force Base. — Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 4 July 2026 While owned by the NRC, the library gives the researchers access to sample components that are tested using a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) approach. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026 Its host star has been a white dwarf for longer than that, which means the exoplanet was safe during the star's destructive red giant phase, and moved into its tight orbit afterwards. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 July 2026 While all trees require some cleanup and care, some are messier and more destructive than others. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
  1. devastating
  2. disastrous
  3. fatal
  4. unfortunate
  5. catastrophic
Adjective
  • Emergency services in Andalusia said the death toll rose overnight amid the devastating blaze.
    — Tom Soufi Burridge, ABC News, 10 July 2026
  • Stay after the final whistle, because this is one of the few places where a win—or a devastating loss—can still end in a conga line.
    — Amber Love Bond, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • There’s no excuse for the disastrous outcome of this very expensive renovation.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026
  • Experts suggest that this significant addition to the technological ecosystem in orbit could have disastrous consequences for life on Earth.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • Like many Maine officials, Biddeford mayor Liam LaFountain has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Joan Sebastian Guerrero at the hands of a federal agent.
    — Caroll Alvarado, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • In the third season, Juliette has lost her memories in the process of surviving a near-fatal experience being locked in an incinerator.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 July 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • Healthcare has an unfortunate tendency to confuse organizational structure with progress.
    — Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
  • This leads to another unfortunate confrontation with a Bowden parent, as Tom drags Cady into the street and beats him up in full view of lookie-loos with phone cameras.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • The threat of catastrophic flooding won’t ease up until Friday, as storms drop rain at 2 to 4 inches per hour.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
  • The National Weather Service warned that storms overnight could dump more than a foot of additional rain to some places into Wednesday, creating potentially catastrophic impacts from flash flooding in areas west of San Antonio.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 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 15 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on destructive

Nglish: Translation of destructive for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

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

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All