destructive
/dɪˈstɹʌktɪv/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Causing destruction; damaging.
Adjective
Examples
The pastures are filled with gay political drop-outs, persons of reasonable intent who found the scene personally destructive.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Causing breakdown or disassembly.
Adjective
Examples
Catabolism is a destructive metabolism that involves the breakdown of molecules and release of energy.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “destructive” mean?
Causing destruction; damaging.
Is “destructive” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.