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

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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 The deadly fires spread across Southern California for a month and became one of the deadliest and most destructive wildfires in the state’s history. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 Know the difference between demanding and destructive leadership. — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026 More severe weather is hitting the Chicago area on Thursday, following destructive storms that left communities with significant damage this past week. — Laura Bannon, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 Only weeks ago, the most destructive wildfire in Spanish history devoured 500 square kilometers (193 square miles) and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people in Ávila, in central Spain. — Suman Naishadham, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
  1. devastating
  2. disastrous
  3. fatal
  4. unfortunate
  5. catastrophic
Adjective
  • Claudine Constant, director of the Beyond Jails Initiative at Vera Institute of Justice, said even one day can be devastating.
    — Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The fear is that a spark from an encampment could be whipped by winds and quickly turn into a devastating blaze across Malibu’s fire-prone hills.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of devastating
Adjective
  • Boone didn’t get to watch the disastrous half-inning from the dugout, as he was ejected in the top of the sixth.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Despite so many past failures, Washington’s foreign policy debates are frequently still dominated by aging officials who made disastrous choices.
    — Emma Ashford, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Adjective
  • The bureau, which faces little public accountability in fatal shootings, declined to comment for this story.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The man who prosecutors say orchestrated the 1996 killing of rap icon Tupac Shakur is scheduled to go to trial Monday, almost 30 years after the fatal drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of fatal
Adjective
  • But Michael Pentecost, a Royse City resident who was not at the swimming pool, called the situation unfortunate.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • This unfortunate incident significantly complicates FC Barcelona's squad planning.
    — Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Adjective
  • Mount Krakatoa, an island volcano in what is now Indonesia, entered its catastrophic eruption phase.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The new setting hinges on those three revelations turning catastrophic.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Aug. 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 17 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on destructive

Nglish: Translation of destructive for Spanish Speakers

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