What does "destructive" mean?

1. (causing damage) causing a lot of physical damage or harm to something. 2. (harmful behavior) describes actions or habits that hurt people or relationships. 3. (irreversible data loss) in computing, a process that changes or deletes original data so it cannot be brought back.

How do you use "destructive"?

Often used in the phrase 'destructive editing' to contrast with methods that preserve the original file.

destructive

adj.

US //dɪˈstɹəktɪv// UK //dɪstɹˈʌktɪv// de·struc·tive

1 causing damage (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

causing a lot of physical damage or harm to something.

causing or tending to cause severe physical damage, ruin, or harm.

Example

The storm was very destructive and knocked down many old trees in the park.

Example

The destructive power of the hurricane was evident in the flattened coastal villages and the complete loss of local infrastructure.
- damaging
- harmful
- ruinous
2 harmful behavior (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describes actions or habits that hurt people or relationships.

tending to destroy or negate; often used to describe psychological patterns or interpersonal dynamics that undermine well-being.

Example

Constant lying is a destructive habit that ruins friendships.

Example

The manager's destructive criticism eventually eroded the team's confidence and led to a sharp decline in productivity.
- supportive
- positive

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3 irreversible data loss (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

in computing, a process that changes or deletes original data so it cannot be brought back.

referring to processes, such as editing or file compression, where the original data is altered or discarded and cannot be fully restored.

Example

Be careful because resizing the image this way is destructive and you will lose the original quality.

Example

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.
- lossy
- irreversible
- non destructive

Origin

From Middle English destructyve, from Middle French destructif, from Latin dēstrūctīvus, from past participle of dēstruere (“to tear down, destroy”) + -īvus.