# destructive

/dɪˈstɹəktɪv/ (US) · /dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/destructive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. causing damage

adjective · CEFR B2

causing a lot of physical damage or harm to something.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. harmful behavior

adjective · CEFR B2

describes actions or habits that hurt people or relationships.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. irreversible data loss

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The storm caused destructive winds across the coast.
- The software update included a destructive installation process that wiped all existing user settings.
- The board recognized that the CEO's management style was becoming increasingly destructive to company morale and long-term stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.