destructive

[ dih-struhk-tiv ]
/ dɪˈstrʌk tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR destructive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often followed by of or to): a very destructive windstorm.
tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit (opposed to constructive): destructive criticism.

Origin of destructive

1480–90; < Middle French < Late Latin dēstructīvus, equivalent to Latin dēstruct(us) (see destruction) + -īvus -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM destructive

Words nearby destructive

destroying angel, destruct, destructible, destruction, destructionist, destructive, destructive competition, destructive distillation, destructive interference, destructo, destructor

Words related to destructiveness

rampage, disturbance, brutality, clash, confusion, assault, fighting, cruelty, attack, struggle, disorder, bloodshed, terrorism, hostility, aggressiveness, accident, mortality, casualty, disaster, fury

Example sentences from the Web for destructiveness

British Dictionary definitions for destructiveness

destructive
/ (dɪˈstrʌktɪv) /

adjective

(often postpositive and foll by of or to) causing or tending to cause the destruction (of)
intended to disprove or discredit, esp without positive suggestions or help; negative destructive criticism Compare constructive (def. 1)

Derived forms of destructive

destructively, adverb destructiveness or destructivity (ˌdiːstrʌkˈtɪvɪtɪ), noun