Meaning & use
constructive
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Meanings
adjectivecomparableapproving
Offering useful ideas or advice that help someone or something get better, instead of only pointing out faults.
Grammar: Can come before a noun or after be: constructive feedback, or the talk was constructive.
Patterns
- constructive criticism
- constructive suggestions
- constructive about something
The teacher gave constructive feedback on my essay.
It was a constructive meeting that ended with a clear plan.
Try to be constructive instead of just complaining.
adjectivebefore a nounformal
Serving to build, create, or produce something positive or useful.
Grammar: Usually before a noun, describing effort or contributions: a constructive role.
Patterns
- play a constructive role
The charity plays a constructive role in rebuilding the town.
The two sides held constructive talks about ending the strike.
Word forms
| comparative | more constructive |
|---|---|
| superlative | most constructive |
Common combinations
- constructive criticism
- He welcomes constructive criticism from his team.
- constructive feedback
- Constructive feedback helped her improve her speech.
- constructive dialogue
- The leaders agreed to a constructive dialogue.
- constructive role
- Parents can play a constructive role in their children's reading.
- constructive use of time
- A walk is a constructive use of time between meetings.
Synonyms and how they differ
- helpful
- Helpful is general, while constructive is specifically about advice or action that builds something better.
- positive
- Positive describes an upbeat attitude, but constructive also requires practical suggestions.
- productive
- Productive is about results achieved, whereas constructive is about intention to improve.
- useful
- Useful can apply to any tool or fact, but constructive is mainly used for comments, talks, and attitudes.
Opposites
Word family
- construct verb
- to build something
- construction noun
- the act or process of building
- constructively adverb
- in a helpful, building way
- constructiveness noun
- the quality of being helpful
- reconstruct verb
- to build again
Commonly confused: constructive or constructive vs. instructive?
constructive vs constructive vs. instructive
Instructive means teaching you something; constructive means helping to improve a situation or work.
Practice
My manager gave me ___ criticism, with specific ideas for improving my reports.
Choose one answer.
Constructive criticism includes suggestions to improve. Destructive criticism only tears down, and obstructive means getting in the way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “constructive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.