VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

disruptive

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
US/dɪsˈrʌptɪv/

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparable

    Causing trouble or interruption that stops something from continuing normally.

    Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or precede a noun: a disruptive pupil; the noise was disruptive.

    Patterns

    • be disruptive to something
    • disruptive behavior

    A disruptive student can make it hard for the whole class to learn.

    The loud construction work was disruptive to our meeting.

    Passengers who are disruptive on a flight may be removed by security.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounbusiness

    Describing a new product or idea that changes an industry or market by replacing the old ways of doing things.

    Grammar: Typically before a noun and often a positive term in business: disruptive technology.

    Patterns

    • disruptive technology
    • disruptive innovation

    Streaming was a disruptive technology that crushed video rental shops.

    The start-up's disruptive pricing forced the older banks to change.

    Investors love disruptive ideas that can reshape a market.

Word forms

comparativemore disruptive
superlativemost disruptive

Common combinations

disruptive behavior
The school has a clear policy on disruptive behavior.
disruptive technology
The smartphone was a disruptive technology for cameras and maps.
disruptive influence
He proved to be a disruptive influence on the team.
highly disruptive
The strike was highly disruptive to commuters.
disruptive innovation
Disruptive innovation often starts with a small, cheap product.

Synonyms and how they differ

troublesome
Troublesome describes anything that causes difficulty and is milder than disruptive, which implies stopping a process.
unruly
Unruly describes people who will not follow rules, particularly children or crowds, and it does not apply to ideas or technologies.
upsetting
Upsetting refers to distressing feelings, but disruptive is about interrupting activity.
revolutionary
Revolutionary suggests a complete, dramatic change and always sounds positive, whereas disruptive can be good or bad.

Opposites

orderlywell-behavedcalming

Word family

disrupt verb
to interrupt or disturb something so that it cannot continue normally
disruption noun
an interruption or disturbance
disruptor noun
a person or company that changes an industry
disruptively adverb
in a way that interrupts or changes things

Commonly confused: disruptive or destructive? disruptive or corruptive?

disruptive vs destructive

Destructive means causing damage or ruin, while disruptive means interrupting or changing how things work. A disruptive student is not destructive unless something gets broken.

disruptive vs corruptive

Corruptive means tending to make something morally bad, which is a different idea from interrupting.

Practice

The teacher moved the noisy boy to the front because his chatting had become ____ to the rest of the class.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “disruptive”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words