adjective

destructive

dih-STRUHK-tihv

adjective

Causing or tending to cause serious damage.

"The storm was the most destructive in the region's history."

"His gambling became a destructive habit."

How to Use Destructive

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTending to cause damage or ruin.

Common pairings

highly destructive a destructive habit destructive force

more destructive comparative, most destructive superlative

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The storm was the most _____ in the region's history.

From Latin destructivus, from destruere, "to destroy".

calamitous catastrophic devastating disastrous eradicative harmful pernicious ruinous wrackful wreckful

constructive nondestructive non-destructive productive

ominous evil auspicious sterile expensive pernicious mischievous futile

Ive five give dive live hive jive vive olive drive alive waive

calamitous catastrophic devastating disastrous eradicative harmful pernicious ruinous wrackful wreckful constructive nondestructive