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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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
The bill comes as the state grapples with how to persuade insurance companies to continue doing business in California amid increasingly destructive wildfire seasons.
—
Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
When a classmate or unknown predator has access to someone’s nude photos a destructive power dynamic is created.
—Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
This is destructive enabling behavior lending legitimacy to a president who should be getting articles of impeachment daily.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Downbursts can be as destructive as tornadoes, but their winds develop in a very different way.
—Amal Elawady, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
When a classmate or unknown predator has access to someone’s nude photos a destructive power dynamic is created.
—Adaira Landry, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
This is destructive enabling behavior lending legitimacy to a president who should be getting articles of impeachment daily.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Downbursts can be as destructive as tornadoes, but their winds develop in a very different way.
—Amal Elawady, The Conversation, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Heiss said that nothing would be so devastating as to have earned Prima’s hatred.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
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Another factor is that federal cannabis reform has stalled in the U.S., which for Tilray and other Canadian operators has been devastating.—
Will Yakowicz,
Forbes.com,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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That quickly became disastrous for both sides as officials had a very public spat with one another using harsh rhetoric in front of a slew of journalists invited to cover what was initially intended to be brief opening remarks.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
9 May 2025
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The second leg against AZ after a disastrous 1-0 defeat in Holland.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
Adjective
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In rare cases, salmonella can result in more serious illness and can be fatal in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
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The Victorian government says symptoms — including diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps — typically occur six to 24 hours after consumption, and can be fatal within 48 hours.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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After a half-decade of unfortunate injuries and the still-strange collapse in the bubble, Leonard at last looks like his two-time Finals MVP self.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
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Tau also has the unfortunate ability to form clumps known as tangles in the brain, again interfering with normal cellular communication.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 17 May. 2025.
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