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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
technology used for destructive ends
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of destructive
Mamdani is being heralded as a hero for espousing one of the most destructive ideologies on the planet.
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Nicole Russell, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026
The flying mess creates the ever-present risk of high-speed collisions that could set off a cascade, known as the Kessler Effect, in which the debris from one satellite strikes multiple other satellites which in turn produce more destructive debris of their own and on and on.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Jan. 2026
Of the more than 22,500 homes destroyed in five of California’s most destructive fires between 2017 and 2020, fewer than four-in-ten had been rebuilt by 2025, a Los Angeles Times analysis from late last summer found.
—Calmatters, Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
One year after two of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history erupted just hours apart, survivors commemorated the day in Altadena and Pacific Palisades with a mixture of anger and somber remembrance.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for destructive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for destructive
Adjective
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Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire ravaged Altadena, destroying thousands of homes and businesses on the way to becoming one of California's most devastating wildfires, survivors are still struggling to find ways to manage their mental health and cope with grief.—
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The devastating title essay, which recounts the death of Ward’s husband, the father of her children, on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, is worth seeking out this collection alone.—
Adjective
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The spotlight increased after a disastrous interview with CBS to promote the legendary coach’s book.—
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Second goal breaks Charlotte’s back The second half opened with a disastrous sequence for Charlotte.—
Adjective
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Several hundred protesters gathered at First Ward Park on Thursday night in response to Wednesday’s fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent.—
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John Mulaney has postponed three upcoming shows in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.—
Adjective
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Their late concession of the winning penalty to Morgan Gibbs-White, above, was unfortunate.—
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Many unfortunate events were blamed on poison—the unexpected death of an enslaver or a slave, a spate of local deaths due to a virus or other disease, or problems on the plantation such as ill livestock or bad harvests.—
Adjective
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Minutes away from his position in Arcadia, reports indicated a fire had started in approximately the same place where, in 1993, another fire had brought about catastrophic consequences.—
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Stand looking out from the wide intersection of East Mariposa Street and Lake Avenue for one potent, representative view of Altadena a year after the catastrophic Eaton fire.—
Cite this Entry
“Destructive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/destructive. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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