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Glite Dictionary
☠️ Related to genocide 💥 Extremely destructive
genocidal

genocidal

1 8.4
Extremely destructive and likely to wipe out a whole community or group
  • adjective
  • /ˌdʒɛnəˈsaɪdəl/
  • Offensive
: genocida (figurado, ofensivo)
  • It is well known that Native Americans have suffered legally sanctioned appropriation of property rights in genocidal proportions.
  • genocidal proportions
  • genocidal scale
  • really genocidal

Well, I think as the statue of Odin shows, the poetic and the genocidal can coexist.

Examples

  • There was nothing they did not try to make their genocidal scheme a success, but in vain.

    Blog text (10)

  • Many regarded their oppressive laws as a genocidal attempt to eliminate cultural diversity.

  • So, what we have to lose is the entire planet to a bunch of genocidal aliens.

    Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

  • Claiming any efforts by Israel against her enemies is 'genocidal.'

    Blog text (3)

  • I have no specific need or desire for most technologies, and I recognize that humans use technology for genocidal harm.

    Blog text (25)

  • And this, you know, this would be Armageddon because people wouldn't realize what a genocidal weapon this was.

  • Well, and this idea that the planet has too many people on it, this is, there's no sentiment more implicitly genocidal than that statement.

  • You've almost got to admire the sheer diabolical genius of this gambit—except that it's genocidal.

    Blog text (30)

  • The dictator's genocidal policies led to the complete destruction of the minority population in the region.

  • The group's genocidal actions shocked the world, illustrating the depths of human cruelty.

Synonyms

annihilating
vsgenocidal
  • NSFW
1 7.8

Something that causes complete destruction or total defeat

is used more as figurative emphasis than literal planned mass killing
exterminatory
vsgenocidal
1 9.1

Intended to destroy things completely

is used more for figurative extreme emphasis than literal organized elimination
annihilative
vsgenocidal
1 9.9

Something that destroys completely, like a powerful bomb

focuses on emphatic, often figurative intent rather than actual physical destruction
annihilatory
vsgenocidal
1 8.9

Causing total destruction

is often used figuratively to stress extreme elimination rather than literal killing
obliterative
vsgenocidal
9.1

Causing complete destruction so nothing is left

is used more figuratively to mean extreme harm rather than total physical removal

How Destructive

genocidal
  • Offensive
1 8.4
devastating
307 5.1
destructive
236 4.2
harmful
158 2.6

Surface Forms

genocidal positive

Morphology

genocidal = genocide (semi-transparent) = genocide + al

The word is built from 'genocide' + -al, but the figurative sense 'extremely destructive' is an extended metaphor rather than a fully literal compositional meaning.

Etymology

Genocidal comes from genocide, built from genos 'group' and -cide 'killing', and that shows why it is a very strong word. Because of this strong origin, people sometimes use genocidal figuratively to mean 'extremely destructive', even when they do not mean literal genocide.