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
During a Santa Ana wind event, Bernstein said the corridor could carry a fire all the way from Ramona to Rancho Santa Fe, much like the way one moved in 2007’s destructive Witch Creek Fire.
—
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
The western United States is facing another destructive wildfire season, with more acres burned in Colorado alone in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
—Tony Cheng, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025
The Glass Fire has been more destructive than the Zogg Fire, which has damaged or destroyed 180 structures and torched 56,000 acres, though there have yet to be an injuries or fatalities reported in the Glass Fire.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
The tactics have transcended low-level website defacements and data theft too and now extend to more destructive attacks on systems such as energy grids, gas pipelines, and undersea cables.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Sep. 2025
The western United States is facing another destructive wildfire season, with more acres burned in Colorado alone in 2025 than in the past four years combined.
—Tony Cheng, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2025
The Glass Fire has been more destructive than the Zogg Fire, which has damaged or destroyed 180 structures and torched 56,000 acres, though there have yet to be an injuries or fatalities reported in the Glass Fire.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
The tactics have transcended low-level website defacements and data theft too and now extend to more destructive attacks on systems such as energy grids, gas pipelines, and undersea cables.
—Brian Walsh, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
-
Last year demonstrated that late September and early October can be an active period for tropical development, with multiple threats that may be high-impact and potentially devastating.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Without the right resources, developers face burnout, community dissatisfaction, or the devastating fate that their games never reach their full potential.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The effect was disastrous, my hair crimped weirdly, with sections shooting out in different directions like the discordant notes of an orchestra tuning up.—
Rachel Kushner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The mid-quarter update offered a glimmer of hope after Six Flags’ disastrous second quarter earnings report in August.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Video of the fatal attack showed Kirk speaking to a large crowd of people on the university campus as a shot rings out.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Though Kirk's visit was controversial on campus, police were tracking no specific or credible threats before the fatal shooting, Utah law enforcement sources told ABC News.—
Meredith Deliso,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Therefore, there are some unfortunate parallels between young Gen Z needing to sacrifice wages due to wavering job opportunities and millennials graduating into the Great Recession.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In today's volatile business climate, layoffs have become an unfortunate reality across industries.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Legislators should realize that a simple law meant to avert potential catastrophic risks seems like an existential risk to those who oppose it.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Fire is the most catastrophic event possible on a yacht, a plane, or a car.—
Rachel Ingram,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share