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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Recent Examples of destructive
Maduro is facing four charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
—
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
When severe wind strikes Southern California, the results can be destructive and deadly.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Construction and durability Turtles can be destructive, so select an enclosure that can withstand abuse.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
In New England, Metacom’s, or King Philip’s, War – waged between Indigenous groups and English settlers – destroyed scores of communities in one of the most destructive conflicts, measured on a per capita basis, in American history.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
When severe wind strikes Southern California, the results can be destructive and deadly.
—Zach Boetto, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
Construction and durability Turtles can be destructive, so select an enclosure that can withstand abuse.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
In New England, Metacom’s, or King Philip’s, War – waged between Indigenous groups and English settlers – destroyed scores of communities in one of the most destructive conflicts, measured on a per capita basis, in American history.
—Peter C. Mancall, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
-
This book is totally devastating.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
George Kittle’s Achilles had popped, a devastating blow to the soul of the roster.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The Chargers’ $262 million man fell to 0-3 in the playoffs, each of those defeats distinctly disastrous.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
Dan Gelston,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Several hundred protesters gathered at First Ward Park on Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Jan. 2026
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John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
Amy McCarthy,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Their late concession of the winning penalty to Morgan Gibbs-White, above, was unfortunate.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The danger posed by such diseases was exemplified by COVID-19, which jumped from bats to humans to catastrophic effect.—
Tom Hawking,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
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At that meeting, more than 190 nations agreed to the target to minimize the growing risks of catastrophic storms, droughts, wildfires, and species extinction.—
Harry Stevens,
New York Times,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 18 Jan. 2026.
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