Destructive - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Destructive means causing great harm, damage, or ruin. It describes actions, forces, or behaviors that break down or destroy things, often leaving them unusable or in a worse state.
Definition:
Causing great harm, damage, or ruin to something or someone.
Synonyms:
devastating, harmful, ruinous, catastrophic
Part of Speech:
adjective
Antonyms:
constructive, beneficial, creative
Common Collocations:
destructive behavior, destructive power, destructive criticism
Derivatives:
destructively, destructiveness
Usage Tips:
Use "destructive" to describe actions or forces that cause severe damage or harm.
Common Phrases:
destructive force, destructive path, destructive tendencies
Etymology:
From Latin "destructivus," meaning "tending to destroy."
Examples:
- 1. The hurricane left a destructive trail of ruined homes and uprooted trees.
- 2. His destructive habits harmed both his health and relationships.
- 3. The wildfire was highly destructive to the forest ecosystem.
- 4. Constructive feedback is better than destructive criticism for team morale.