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Showing results for destructive. Search instead for destructive/3.
Definitions

destructive

[dih-struhk-tiv] / dɪˈstrʌk tɪv /
ADJECTIVE
injurious, devastating
Synonyms
STRONGEST
calamitous cataclysmic catastrophic damaging deadly detrimental disastrous fatal harmful hurtful lethal pernicious ruinous suicidal toxic
WEAK
annihilative baleful baneful cancerous consumptive cutthroat deleterious dire eradicative evil extirpative fell internecine lethiferous mortal noisome noxious pestiferous pestilential slaughterous venomous wrackful wreckful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous assisting beneficial blessed favorable fortunate harmless healthful helpful kind life-giving wholesome
WEAK
aiding building creative encouraging hopeful positive productive
ADJECTIVE
hurtful, disparaging
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adverse corrosive detrimental hostile negative offensive troublesome vicious
WEAK
abrasive antagonistic cankerous caustic contrary deleterious derogatory discouraging discrediting erosive injurious invalidating opposed undermining
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous agreeable friendly gentle good helpful kind nice
WEAK
aiding assisting building creative encouraging hopeful positive productive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Counterintuitively, Zander and Petersson believe that prioritizing professional relationships has allowed the band to avoid the destructive infighting that often plagues bands made up of best friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Whether sinful passions or unconscious destructive urges, distracting attachments or visceral impulses, desire is the daemon that makes us act, often against our own interests and those of others.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

"You start to find other things that could be destructive instead of constructive. I've seen it countless times in boxing, the likes of Tyson Fury and the rest," he says.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

“But, in the end, we lose our humanity when we are thrilled by the destructive power of our military.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

“I casually mentioned to Stalin that we had a new weapon of unusual destructive force,” Truman recalled.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

Vocabulary lists containing destructive

Latin Love, Vol I: struere

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Ocean Storm Alert!

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George's Key to the Universe, Lessons 1–5

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