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# destructive

adjective (destructive, more destructive, most destructive)

«destructive» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Destructive means causing a lot of damage or ruin. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#m1)
2. A destructive person or animal often breaks or ruins things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and geography, storms, floods, earthquakes and fires can be destructive. In everyday life, a puppy can be destructive and chew shoes. In stories, a destructive villain wrecks things. Phrases: «destructive storm», «destructive behaviour», «the destructive power of».

### Examples

- The storm was very destructive and flattened many houses. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x1)
- Our puppy is destructive when she is bored. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x2)
- Earthquakes can be extremely destructive. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x3)
- Throwing things in anger is destructive behaviour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x4)
- Some insects are destructive to crops. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x5)
- The fire was the most destructive in the town's history. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x6)
- Rabbits can be destructive in a vegetable garden. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x7)
- THE OXEN once upon a time sought to destroy the Butchers, who practiced a trade destructive to their race. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/#x8)

### Note

From «destroy» and «destruction». Opposite: «constructive» (helpful, building up). «Constructive criticism» helps; «destructive criticism» only hurts. Not a number word, but «more destructive» compares damage.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «destructive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/D/destructive/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«destructive» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/destructive.html) on Mova free.