- destructive
- UK [dɪˈstrʌktɪv] / US
adjective
causing severe damage or harm
the bomb's enormous destructive power
the destructive effect of unemployment on individuals
English dictionary. 2014.
the bomb's enormous destructive power
the destructive effect of unemployment on individuals
English dictionary. 2014.
Destructive — De*struc tive, a. [L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif.] Causing destruction; tending to bring about ruin, death, or devastation; ruinous; fatal; productive of serious evil; mischievous; pernicious; often with of or to; as, intemperance is… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
destructive — [adj1] injurious, devastating annihilative, baleful, baneful, calamitous, cancerous, cataclysmic, catastrophic, consumptive, cutthroat, damaging, deadly, deleterious, detrimental, dire, disastrous, eradicative, evil, extirpative, fatal, fell,… … New thesaurus
destructive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) causing destruction. 2) negative and unhelpful: destructive criticism. DERIVATIVES destructively adverb destructiveness noun … English terms dictionary
destructive — [di struk′tiv] adj. [OFr destructif < LL destructivus] 1. tending or likely to cause destruction 2. causing or producing destruction; destroying 3. merely negative; not helpful [destructive criticism] destructively adv. destructiveness n.… … English World dictionary
Destructive — De*struc tive, n. One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
destructive — I adjective annihilating, baleful, damaging, destroying, detrimental, feral, harmful, injurious, internecine, malign, miasmal, miasmatic, miasmic, pernicious II index adverse (negative), bad (offens … Law dictionary
destructive — late 15c., from O.Fr. destructif (14c.), from L.L. destructivus, from destruct , pp. stem of L. destruere (see DESTROY (Cf. destroy)) … Etymology dictionary
destructive — adj. VERBS ▪ be, seem ▪ become ADVERB ▪ extremely, fairly, very, etc … Collocations dictionary
destructive — /dəsˈtrʌktɪv/ (say duhs truktiv) adjective 1. tending to destroy; causing destruction: destructive of reason; destructive to the environment. 2. tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit: destructive criticism. 3. carried on to the point of… …
destructive — ● destructif, destructive adjectif (bas latin destructivus) Se dit de ce qui détruit, a le pouvoir de détruire : L action destructive des eaux. ● destructif, destructive (difficultés) adjectif (bas latin destructivus) Emploi … Encyclopédie Universelle
destructive — adj. 1 (often foll. by to, of) destroying or tending to destroy (destructive of her peace of mind; is destructive to organisms; a destructive child). 2 negative in attitude or criticism; refuting without suggesting, helping, amending, etc. (opp.… … Useful english dictionary