destructive

destructive
destructively, adv.destructiveness, destructivity /dee'struk tiv"i tee/, n.
/di struk"tiv/, adj.
1. tending to destroy; causing destruction or much damage (often fol. by of or to): a very destructive windstorm.
2. tending to overthrow, disprove, or discredit (opposed to constructive): destructive criticism.
[1480-90; < MF < LL destructivus, equiv. to L destruct(us) (see DESTRUCTION) + -ivus -IVE]
Syn. 1. ruinous, deleterious. 2. unfavorable, adverse, negative.
Ant. 1. creative. 2. constructive.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • 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

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”