Meaning & use
destructively
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Meanings
adverb
In a way that causes serious damage or harm.
Grammar: Modifies a verb: behave destructively, act destructively.
Patterns
- act destructively
- behave destructively
- criticize destructively
The storm moved destructively through the coastal towns.
He criticized the plan destructively, offering no useful suggestions.
The children behaved destructively when they were left alone.
adverb
In a way that harms a situation or relationship rather than helping it.
Grammar: Often used with verbs of communication or interaction: argue destructively.
Patterns
- argue destructively
- interfere destructively
- use power destructively
They argued destructively for hours, each trying to hurt the other.
Social media can be used destructively to spread rumors.
The manager's comments were destructively negative.
Common combinations
- behave destructively
- The puppy behaved destructively when left alone.
- act destructively
- He acted destructively out of jealousy.
- criticize destructively
- She criticized him destructively in front of the team.
- destructively self-critical
- He was destructively self-critical after the mistake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- harmfully
- Focuses on causing harm or injury; destructively suggests more violent or widespread damage.
- damagingly
- Similar, but often used for reputations or relationships rather than physical destruction.
- ruinously
- Stronger; implies complete ruin, while destructively can be partial.
Opposites
Word family
- destructive adjective
- Causing damage or harm.
- destruction noun
- The act of destroying something.
- destroy verb
- To damage something so badly that it no longer exists or works.
Commonly confused: destructively or destructively vs. destructively?
destructively vs destructively vs. destructively
No common confusion; just remember it is an adverb, so it describes how an action is done.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'destructively' correctly.
Choose one answer.
'Destructively' is an adverb, so it describes an action like 'acted'. In option An it should be the adjective 'destructive' before 'storm'; options C and D use it in ungrammatical positions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “destructively”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.