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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destructive
Authorities also determined Roberts had not registered any destructive devices as required under the National Firearms Act.
—
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Taz-Mania’s lush tropical district will be designed by the destructive Taz who wreaks havoc after escaping his cage.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Most believe there could be solutions through civil dialog, there are answers in the middle, and there is destructive disunity at the fringes.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
When mowed higher than recommended, warm-season grasses are prone to developing a destructive layer of thatch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 3 June 2026
Taz-Mania’s lush tropical district will be designed by the destructive Taz who wreaks havoc after escaping his cage.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Most believe there could be solutions through civil dialog, there are answers in the middle, and there is destructive disunity at the fringes.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 2 June 2026
When mowed higher than recommended, warm-season grasses are prone to developing a destructive layer of thatch.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Femi was coming off a devastating loss against Brock Lesnar.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Fewer, but more ‘devastating’ blazes That the world suffered fewer acres torched by wildfires in 2025 likely comes as little relief to the countries and cities that battled the infernos last year.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Caitlin Clark was part of another disastrous collapse on Saturday night, as the Indiana Fever blew a double-digit lead to the New York Liberty.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 June 2026
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At that pace, even a tiny micrometeoroid has the ability to impart a significant kinetic blow upon striking a spacecraft en route to the moon, with potentially disastrous results for the astronaut crew inside.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
7 June 2026
Adjective
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Iyo Sky, Roxanne Perez, Giulia and Lash Legend squared off in a fatal four-way match with a spot in the semifinals waiting for the winner.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
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Underscoring the stakes for Louisville residents is the March fatal shooting of a 28-year-old woman named Katelyn Hall, who was experiencing a mental health crisis when police gunned her down in her own apartment.—
Topher Sanders,
ProPublica,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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There’s no question that this unfortunate cocktail of corruption, inefficiency, and simple incompetence is holding the country back.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
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Unfortunately, going cold turkey off a central nervous system depressant like GHB has some pretty unfortunate side-effects.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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In 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove her minivan in the wrong direction on the Taconic State Parkway, resulting in a catastrophic collision with an SUV that killed herself, her daughter, three nieces, and three people in the other vehicle.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 June 2026
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Anywhere some of those choices turn out to be catastrophic mistakes.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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