Word
destructive
Phoneticsde·struc·tive, stress on the second syllable
US/dɪˈstɹəktɪv/
UK/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/
Definitions
01causing damage
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. causing a lot of physical damage or harm to something.
adj. causing or tending to cause severe physical damage, ruin, or harm.
“The storm was very destructive and knocked down many old trees in the park.”
“The destructive power of the hurricane was evident in the flattened coastal villages and the complete loss of local infrastructure.”
Antonyms
02harmful behavior
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describes actions or habits that hurt people or relationships.
adj. tending to destroy or negate; often used to describe psychological patterns or interpersonal dynamics that undermine well-being.
“Constant lying is a destructive habit that ruins friendships.”
“The manager's destructive criticism eventually eroded the team's confidence and led to a sharp decline in productivity.”
Antonyms
03irreversible data loss
C1 · Advanced Computing Technical
adj. in computing, a process that changes or deletes original data so it cannot be brought back.
adj. referring to processes, such as editing or file compression, where the original data is altered or discarded and cannot be fully restored.
“Be careful because resizing the image this way is destructive and you will lose the original quality.”
“The software performs a destructive overwrite of the disk sectors, ensuring that the previous information is unrecoverable even with forensic tools.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'destructive editing' to contrast with methods that preserve the original file.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “destructive” in context.
Verb
01. become destructive
“When protests become destructive, the police are often forced to intervene.”
verb + adj
02. unleash a destructive force
“The sudden dam failure unleashed a destructive force that swept through the valley.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. destructive to the environment
“The new mining project proved highly destructive to the environment and local wildlife.”
adj + prep
04. highly destructive
“The hurricane was highly destructive, leveling entire neighborhoods within minutes.”
adv + adj
05. mutually destructive
“The two nations were locked in a mutually destructive trade war that crippled both economies.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. destructive behavior
“The therapist helped him identify the root causes of his self-destructive behavior.”
adj + noun
07. destructive criticism
“Instead of offering helpful advice, he just leveled destructive criticism at her work.”
adj + noun
08. destructive power
“Modern weaponry has the destructive power to end civilization as we know it.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“A soil fungus could offer a new way to tackle the hugely destructive caterpillars where chemical controls have fallen short.” “It is also a love letter to King’s The Shining and has a strong environmental message too, concerning man’s uneasy and destructive relationship with the natural world.” Etymology
From Middle English destructyve, from Middle French destructif, from Latin dēstrūctīvus, from past participle of dēstruere (“to tear down, destroy”) + -īvus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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