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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
technology used for destructive ends
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destructive
Hank’s death was the tragic turning point that finally crystalized just how destructive Walter White’s ambitions truly were.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, dogs might exhibit destructive behavior, excess barking, restlessness or urination and defecation.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
All while treating patients in the middle of a destructive hurricane.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Soggy soil is a breeding ground for destructive pests and diseases.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
As a result, dogs might exhibit destructive behavior, excess barking, restlessness or urination and defecation.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
All while treating patients in the middle of a destructive hurricane.
—Emily Blackwood, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
Soggy soil is a breeding ground for destructive pests and diseases.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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This detonation will spew material at the other white dwarf, triggering the same devastating sequence.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
9 Apr. 2025
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The fight has dealt devastating blows to markets with more pain seemingly on the way on Wednesday.—
Lauren Irwin,
The Hill,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Apple had seemed to resolve this with its Private Cloud Compute, but then its disastrous Apple Intelligence delays made all that somewhat academic for the time being at least.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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But what could have been a disastrous situation from the jump has the looks of becoming a positive for Báez and the Tigers.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Black lung, a debilitating and often fatal condition caused by inhalation of coal and silica dust during mining, affects roughly 1 in 5 miners who have worked in the Central Appalachian mines for twenty-five years or more, according to NIOSH.—
Dr. Mark Abdelmalek,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2025
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The day of the fatal fall, Goodwin said Bass had checked on Tidus and his brother minutes prior, and then had stepped outside with the dog.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In 2022, Manhattan Federal Judge Jed Rakoff, who presided over both trials, decided The Times was not liable for defamation while jurors were deliberating, that the error amounted to unfortunate editorializing but not libel.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2025
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Such a difficult call really spotlighted for the first time how tough a situation he has been left in by Eddie Howe’s unfortunate absence (due to pneumonia).—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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