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Meaning & use

destructive

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
US/dɪˈstrʌktɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Causing serious damage to things, places, or people.

    Grammar: Used before a noun (a destructive storm) or after linking verbs (the storm was destructive); it can be graded with more/most.

    Patterns

    • destructive to something
    • highly destructive
    • a destructive force

    The hurricane was the most destructive storm in fifty years.

    Heavy logging has been destructive to the region's forests.

    Wildfires are especially destructive when the wind is strong.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Harming relationships, health, or happiness rather than physical objects.

    Grammar: Often used before nouns like behavior, habit, or relationship, or after be.

    Patterns

    • destructive behavior
    • a destructive habit
    • destructive to someone

    Jealousy can be destructive to a close friendship.

    He finally admitted that his drinking was destructive.

    Constant criticism is destructive to a child's confidence.

  3. adjectivebefore a nountechnical

    Intended to cause damage or defeat, as in a weapon or attack.

    Grammar: Mainly before nouns such as weapon, power, or capacity; it is not usually graded in this sense.

    Patterns

    • destructive weapon
    • destructive power

    The treaty limits the testing of destructive weapons.

    The bomb's destructive power flattened several blocks.

Word forms

comparativemore destructive
superlativemost destructive

Common combinations

highly destructive
These beetles are highly destructive to stored grain.
destructive behavior
The teacher spoke to the parents about their son's destructive behavior.
destructive to something
Gossip is destructive to trust in a team.
a destructive force
Floodwater is a destructive force that can move whole buildings.
self-destructive
His self-destructive habits worried everyone who knew him.

Synonyms and how they differ

damaging
Damaging is milder and more general; destructive suggests severe, often permanent harm.
harmful
Harmful means causing any harm, including small amounts, while destructive implies serious damage.
devastating
Devastating is stronger and often describes a single event that ruins everything, such as a war or storm.

Opposites

constructiveharmless

Word family

destroy verb
to damage something so badly that it no longer exists or works
destruction noun
the act of destroying something, or the damage caused
destructively adverb
in a way that causes damage
destructiveness noun
the quality of causing great damage
indestructible adjective
too strong to be destroyed

Commonly confused: destructive or destructible? destructive or self-destructive?

destructive vs destructible

Destructible means able to be destroyed, so "a destructible storm" is wrong; you want destructive.

destructive vs self-destructive

Self-destructive describes someone harming themselves, not something harming other people or things.

Practice

Smoking is highly ______ to your lungs.

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