1
as in devastating
causing or tending to cause destruction
the destructive storm blew down trees all over town, and blew the roof off our neighbor's house
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2
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
technology used for destructive ends
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Recent Examples of destructive
California has experienced 15 of its most destructive fires in state history since 2015, losing more than 14,500 structures just in 2020 and 2021.
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Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
In his first time on the world stage since defeating Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5, Trump will be heading to France this weekend for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral after the destructive fire of 2019.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
The Clouds worked to counteract the destructive influences of assimilationist policies.
—The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024
Following through on the threat would be enormously destructive to the U.S. economy and would hit politicians’ beloved automotive sector especially hard, as auto parts and finished cars traverse both borders by the thousands each day.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for destructive 
Karen Kucher, The Mercury News, 6 Dec. 2024
In his first time on the world stage since defeating Vice President Kamala Harris on November 5, Trump will be heading to France this weekend for the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral after the destructive fire of 2019.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Dec. 2024
The Clouds worked to counteract the destructive influences of assimilationist policies.
—The New Yorker, 4 Dec. 2024
Following through on the threat would be enormously destructive to the U.S. economy and would hit politicians’ beloved automotive sector especially hard, as auto parts and finished cars traverse both borders by the thousands each day.
—The Editors, National Review, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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This social isolation and loss of support – even from close friends and family members – is a devastating and often unrecognized side effect of the disease.Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
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The Dalan vaccine defends against a devastating bacterial disease aptly named American Foulbrood, and Kleiser sees it as a first step toward keeping the roughly 3 million honeybee colonies in the U.S. healthy.Amy Feldman, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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But the film’s poisonous reviews and disastrous box office all but torpedoed her Oscar hopes this year, and the film was shut out in Monday’s Globe nominations.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 9 Dec. 2024
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While Norris and Piastri scored points regularly, Red Bull’s defense of its title was hampered by Sergio Perez’s disastrous form, with the Mexican’s last podium coming in the sprint race in Miami.Dan Cancian, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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According to Kenny, the gunman was finally seen entering a cab that dropped him off near the George Washington Bridge Bus Terminal at 178th St and Broadway — his last known location — around 7:30 a.m., just 45 minutes after the fatal shooting.Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Dec. 2024
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This week’s fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare Chief Executive Brian Thompson has unleashed a wave of public feeling — exasperation, anger, resentment, helplessness — from Americans sharing personal stories of interactions with insurance companies, often seen as faceless corporate giants.Tom Murphy and Devi Shastri, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Absentees from injury are unfortunate, suspensions less so.Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
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The unfortunate trend is certainly concerning for a Lions team that is hoping to make a deep playoff run.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 16 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near destructive
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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