destructive

Examples

• All

• The point is that mandates are out of place and destructive in a university.

  Academic text (1990)

• Speaking of wind, the winds are increasingly destructive in our world.

• You know, this is such a destructive image.

• This means conflict that is destructive to both sides.

  Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

• The most destructive force in the universe, Harry.

  The Black Hole (1979)

• I think it has destructive psychological effects.

  Lex Fridman

• But these exercises are meant to get you past the destructive behaviors that brought you here.

  The Crow (2024)

• The greatest power in the universe, unparalleled in its destructive capabilities.

  Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

• Hopefully, learners will learn to make positive choices and not choose destructive endeavors in life.

  Academic text (1999)

• The hurricane caused destructive winds that flattened entire neighborhoods.

Synonyms

D

devastating

vsdestructive

224 5.1

Causing very great damage or sadness

is strong but usually less overwhelming or absolute

H

harmful

vsdestructive

161 2.6

Causing damage to people, animals or things

is typically stronger, implying more severe or lasting damage

C

catastrophic

vsdestructive

144 7.0

Causing very great damage or harm

can mean great harm but not always sudden or as widespread

D

damaging

vsdestructive

80 3.1

Likely to cause harm to a person or to their things

suggests much greater or more severe impact rather than mere negative effect

D

detrimental

vsdestructive

49 6.3

Causing harm to people, things, or the environment

is stronger and often refers to very great or ruinous harm

R

ruinous

vsdestructive

10 7.0

Causing very serious harm to people or businesses

tends to mean large negative effect but not always total loss

D

deleterious

vsdestructive

• Formal

9 8.5

Harmful to people, animals, or plants

is broader and covers damage to people, objects, or systems

B

baneful

vsdestructive

• Formal

1 9.1

Causing great harm or serious damage

implies serious harm but can be quicker or less lingering

R

ravaging

vsdestructive

7.4

Making people, places, or things suffer very severe damage

often means severe harm but not necessarily wide wasting

C

cataclysmal

vsdestructive

9.9

Causing very large, sudden destruction that changes a place

is more about major upheaval, while the other is less transformative

A

annihilatory

vsdestructive

8.9

Causing total destruction

expresses great harm but not necessarily complete, utter elimination

A

annihilative

vsdestructive

9.9

Something that destroys completely, like a powerful bomb

focuses on severe damage but lacks absolute wiping out sense

O

obliterative

vsdestructive

9.1

Causing complete destruction so nothing is left

means great harm but does not always erase all traces

E

exterminatory

vsdestructive

9.1

Intended to destroy things completely

refers to causing great damage but not specifically intentional total removal

Antonyms

C

constructive

144 3.9

Helpful in a way that makes something better

B

beneficial

138 3.4

Making something better or producing a good result

Compounds

D

destructive distillation

• Specialized

8.6

Heating a solid material without air so it breaks down and makes gases and liquids that you collect

D

destructive metabolism

• Specialized

5.4

The process that breaks down food and body tissue to release energy

D

destructive-metabolic

8.6

Breaking down large molecules in the body into smaller parts to release energy

How Destructive

catastrophic

144 7.0

devastating

224 5.1

destructive

243 4.2

damaging

80 3.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology