Added 9 October 2026
destructive
/dɪˈstɹʌktɪv/ adjective
In Latin: exitiosus, exitiābilis, destructivus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about destructive at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Causing destruction; damaging.
-
Causing breakdown or disassembly.
Catabolism is a destructive metabolism that involves the breakdown of molecules and release of energy.
-
Lossy; causing irreversible change.
Blurring an image is a destructive operation, but rotating an image is not.
Origin
From Middle English destructyve, from Middle French destructif, from Latin dēstrūctīvus, from past participle of dēstruere (“to tear down, destroy”) + -īvus.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)