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
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Recent Examples of destructive
The Steve Miller Band concert at Hard Rock Live was scheduled to take place four days before the anniversary of Hurricane Milton, a destructive storm that made landfall near Siesta Key on Oct. 9, 2024, causing more than $34 billion in damage.
—
Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Endorsing candidates, however, is likely to be destructive.
—Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Scientists believe these unpredictable, destructive storms are linked to climate change.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Central Texas is still reeling from the destructive and deadly floodwaters, which were spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River, drowning portions of the state's Hill Country.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Ben Crandell, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2025
Endorsing candidates, however, is likely to be destructive.
—Esau McCaulley, The Atlantic, 15 July 2025
Scientists believe these unpredictable, destructive storms are linked to climate change.
—Opheli Garcia Lawler, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025
Central Texas is still reeling from the destructive and deadly floodwaters, which were spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River, drowning portions of the state's Hill Country.
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Historically, the most devastating result from tariffs came from the sweeping Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act that began to wend its way through Congress in 1929, triggering the infamous stock market crash.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Perhaps Trump wanted to save off his most devastating salvos — the EU and Mexico were, in 2024, the top-two largest trade partners of the U.S. — for when the markets were closed, hence avoiding any immediate backlash from traders.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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And yes, it must also be said that domestic and feral cats have been disastrous to the world's biodiversity, having contributed to the extinction of 40 bird and 21 mammal species – 26% of the extinctions in these groups – since the 1600s.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 July 2025
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Hunt was the site of particularly disastrous flooding early in the morning on July 4, with officials saying the river swelled more than 20 feet in less than an hour and ultimately killed at least 103 people countywide, including dozens of children at a riverside summer camp called Camp Mystic.—
July 13,
CBS News,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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Priya allegedly injected her business partner with a fatal overdose of sedatives, Joseph said.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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Most of Red’s acquaintances are drug-addicted and on the edge of a fatal overdose; Red is essentially alone in his efforts to save himself, except for Gulbransen, who is part doctor, part social worker, part father figure, part friend.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Instead, like so many unfortunate accidents since cell phones were invented, this was caused by a distracted driver.—
Anne Marie D. Lee,
CBS News,
14 July 2025
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Fortunately for him, that gaffe will be a little easier to live down than Teal and Weinberg’s unfortunate comments.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 28 Jul. 2025.
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