destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv 
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
Examples of destructive in a Sentence
It was one of the most destructive storms in recent memory.
She argued that the law was destructive of personal liberties.
The school is concerned about the destructive behavior of a few students.
Recent Examples on the Web
Back-to-back-to-back deadly and destructive tornado outbreaks in recent weeks have put a punctuation mark on what’s been an unusually active start to the year for thunderstorms in the United States.
—
Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025
The Los Angeles region is rebuilding two communities after the most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s history.
—Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Jared has apologized to Kurt for his past behavior, which included excessive drinking and other destructive activities.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
But instead of controlling destructive sugar cane beetle populations, the amphibians quickly became their own ecological catastrophe.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
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Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025
The Los Angeles region is rebuilding two communities after the most destructive wildfires in Southern California’s history.
—Laurel Rosenhall, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Jared has apologized to Kurt for his past behavior, which included excessive drinking and other destructive activities.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2025
But instead of controlling destructive sugar cane beetle populations, the amphibians quickly became their own ecological catastrophe.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destructive. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
destructive
adjective
de·struc·tive
di-ˈstrək-tiv
1
: causing destruction : ruinous
a destructive storm
2
: designed or tending to hurt or destroy
destructive criticism
destructively
adverb
destructiveness
noun
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