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
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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
Again, this message gamifies violence and obscures the destructive toll of war.
—
Casey Ryan Kelly, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
These destructive pests do have some enemies.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
But environmentalists say the project is a destructive boondoggle.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
His destructive idea was that the tariffs were needed because the largest economy in the world should have no trade deficits with any other country on the planet.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Casey Ryan Kelly, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
These destructive pests do have some enemies.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 9 Mar. 2026
But environmentalists say the project is a destructive boondoggle.
—Arkansas Online, 8 Mar. 2026
His destructive idea was that the tariffs were needed because the largest economy in the world should have no trade deficits with any other country on the planet.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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One bad year for Arbiquina crops could be devastating for the large-scale farmers.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
16 Mar. 2026
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Members have supported communities across Texas and beyond, including relief efforts following a devastating 2023 tornado in Perryton and flooding that impacted the state last year.—
Michael Cuviello,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Each hot run was countered by a disastrous stretch for seemingly everyone.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
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But two disastrous seasons followed that campaign, with the Hurricanes going a combined 22-41 in 2023-24 and 2024-25.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The killing is Kansas City’s 27th homicide of 2026, which lines up exactly with the 27 homicides the city had seen at this time last year, according to data kept by The Star, which includes fatal police shootings.—
Nathan Pilling
March 17,
Kansas City Star,
18 Mar. 2026
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Investigators argued the fatal poisoning was not the first attempt on Eric Richins’ life.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The interviews themselves are informative, but unobtrusive, and the while intimate footage of Frazier and Reynolds’ personal lives paints a slightly wider picture of their circumstances, their moods in the aftermath of their unfortunate digital breakthroughs is kept largely at an arm’s length.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
14 Mar. 2026
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Juicy is in the unfortunate position of following Jane.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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And despite volatility across markets, oil prices don’t seem to be creeping back toward catastrophic levels.—
Tiana Lowe Doescher,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
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And in some cases, going up against her has resulted in a nearly catastrophic loss in follower count.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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