destructive
gb/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/ us/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/
B1
Angličtina
~ 6900
Významy
0 významů
adjective
B1
property
1
causing great physical damage
Causing very bad physical damage to things.
Vzorec užití:
a destructive [force/event/fire/storm]
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes use "destroy" instead of "destructive" before a noun, saying *a destroy storm* instead of *a destructive storm*. Remember: "destroy" is a verb, while "destructive" is an adjective used before nouns (e.g., "destructive fire").
Synonyma
damaging (More general; can be less strong than "destructive.")
|
devastating (Stronger and more emotional; often used for very large or shocking damage.)
|
ruinous (Emphasizes complete ruin; slightly more formal or literary.)
Antonyma
harmless (Emphasizes that something does not cause damage.)
|
protective (Emphasizes guarding something from damage, the opposite role of being destructive.)
|
constructive (Focuses on building or improving instead of damaging or ruining.)
Kolokace
destructive force
|destructive power
|destructive storm
|destructive fire
|highly destructive
|destructive earthquake
Témata
daily life
|environment
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Příklady
- The hurricane was one of the most destructive storms in the country’s history.
- Termites can be extremely destructive if they get into the wooden frame of a house.
- The bomb left a destructive blast zone stretching for several blocks.
- Wildfires have become more destructive as the climate gets hotter and drier.
- The tornado carved a destructive path through the center of town.
Učební příklady
- The fire was very destructive and burned many homes.
- That type of insect is destructive to crops.
- The war was destructive and left many buildings in ruins.
- Smoking can be destructive to your lungs over time.
- Floods can be destructive when they reach cities.
adjective
B2
property
2
causing serious non-physical harm
Causing very bad results for things like relationships, plans, or feelings.
Vzorec užití:
destructive [behavior/habits/criticism] (to [something])
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes use only "bad" or "negative" where "destructive" is better. Use "destructive" when the behavior or attitude does serious harm, not just a small or ordinary problem. Also, do not confuse "destructive" with "disruptive": "disruptive" means causing interruption or disorder, not necessarily deep harm.
Synonyma
harmful (More general; can be weaker and less dramatic than "destructive.")
|
toxic (Informal; stresses a very unhealthy effect, especially on relationships and emotions.)
|
damaging (Neutral and common; can be used for both physical and non-physical harm.)
Antonyma
constructive (Stresses that something is helpful and builds or improves instead of harming.)
|
healthy (Often used for habits or relationships that support good mental or emotional life.)
|
positive (Emphasizes a good, helpful effect on a situation or relationship.)
Kolokace
destructive behavior
|destructive habits
|destructive patterns
|destructive criticism
|emotionally destructive
|socially destructive
Témata
emotions
|society
|psychology
|relationships
Příklady
- He realized his constant blaming was deeply destructive to their marriage.
- The company’s culture of fear is destructive to innovation.
- Her drinking became a destructive habit that affected everyone around her.
- Such negative, destructive comments only make people feel worse.
- Online bullying can have a destructive impact on a young person’s self-esteem.
Učební příklady
- Jealousy can be very destructive in a relationship.
- His lies were destructive to the team’s trust.
- Those angry words were destructive and not helpful.
- Spending too much money can be destructive to your future plans.
- Constant fighting is destructive for children in a family.
adjective
B2
property
3
having a habit of causing damage
Describing a person or animal who often breaks or ruins things, especially when they are upset.
Vzorec užití:
[someone] is destructive (when [condition])
Častá chyba:
Learners sometimes say a person is "a destructive" (as a noun). Here, "destructive" is an adjective. Say "he is destructive" or "he has destructive behavior," not *"he is a destructive."
Synonyma
violent (Focuses more on physical aggression; not always about breaking objects.)
|
reckless (Focuses on not caring about the results; may or may not be actively breaking things.)
Antonyma
gentle (Stresses being careful and kind, not likely to damage things.)
|
careful (Emphasizes taking care not to cause damage.)
Kolokace
a destructive child
|destructive tendencies
|destructive personality
|destructive streak
|become destructive
|extremely destructive
Témata
psychology
|behavior
|daily life
|daily_life
|emotions
Příklady
- Their toddler is sweet but incredibly destructive when left alone with crayons and paint.
- When he drinks, he becomes loud and destructive, breaking furniture and throwing things.
- The dog was so bored that it turned destructive and chewed up the sofa.
- She has a destructive streak and seems to enjoy breaking other people’s things.
- Without clear rules, some students can quickly become destructive in the classroom.
Učební příklady
- The child is very destructive and breaks many toys.
- When he is angry, he becomes destructive and hits the walls.
- Their cat gets destructive when they leave it alone all day.
- If children are bored, they can get destructive at home.
- The teacher said the boys were too destructive in class.
adjective
technical
C1
property
4
involving irreversible damage in testing or operations
Used in science and technology to describe tests or actions that change or damage something so it cannot return to its original state.
Vzorec užití:
destructive [test/method/operation/process]
Častá chyba:
Learners may not realize that in technical contexts, "destructive" has a specific contrast with "non-destructive". It does not simply mean "very bad"; it means the test or operation permanently changes or damages the item or data.
Synonyma
irreversible (Focuses on the change not being able to be undone, not specifically on damage.)
|
damaging (General word for causing harm; in technical contexts, may lack the precise contrast with "non-destructive.")
Antonyma
non-destructive (Technical opposite; stresses that the test or operation does not damage the object or data.)
|
reversible (Can be undone or returned to the original state.)
Kolokace
destructive testing
|destructive analysis
|destructive operation
|destructive edit
|destructive process
|destructive interference
Témata
science
|engineering
|technology
Příklady
- The engineers performed destructive testing on several samples to find the material’s breaking point.
- In photo editing, always work on a copy of the file to avoid destructive changes.
- Destructive analysis of the component showed microscopic cracks in the metal.
- The update process is destructive, so all existing data on the device will be erased.
- Non-destructive methods are preferred when the object being studied is rare or valuable, but destructive methods can provide more detailed information.
Učební příklady
- They used destructive testing and broke the metal bar to study it.
- This software makes destructive changes, so you can’t go back.
- The scientist chose a destructive method that damaged the sample.
- A destructive test destroys the object at the end.
- Non-destructive tests are safer for expensive parts than destructive tests.
Gramatika
Slovníkový tvar
destructive
IPA
GB/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/
US/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/
Slabiky a přízvuk
de - struct - ive (3 slabiky)
Stress on 2nd syllable (struct)
Tvary slova
Adjective
- Base: destructive
Příbuzná slova
Core family
Related words
destroyer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
indestructible
adjective
Advanced or less common
destructible
adjective
destructiveness
noun
Výrazy
destructive behavior
1/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv bɪhˈeɪvjɚ/
fixed phrase
behavior that seriously harms people or things
Actions that cause serious harm to people, relationships, or things, often again and again.
Příklady
- The school is trying to stop destructive behavior like fighting and vandalism.
- In therapy they talked about how to replace destructive behavior with healthier habits.
- Her destructive behavior was a way to express pain she could not put into words.
destructive criticism
1/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv kɹˈɪtɪsˌɪzəm/
fixed phrase
criticism that only hurts, not helps
Negative comments that hurt a person or their work but do not try to help them improve.
Příklady
- The manager’s harsh, destructive criticism left the team feeling demotivated.
- There is a big difference between constructive feedback and destructive criticism.
- Online discussions often turn into destructive criticism instead of useful debate.
destructive interference
1/dɪstɹˈʌktɪv ˌɪntɚfˈɪɹəns/
fixed phrase
technical
waves combining to reduce each other
In physics, when two waves meet in such a way that they cancel each other and the total effect becomes smaller.
Příklady
- Noise-canceling headphones use destructive interference to reduce unwanted sounds.
- At certain points along the string, destructive interference makes the wave almost disappear.
- The dark bands on the screen are caused by destructive interference of the light waves.
non-destructive testing
1/nˈɑn dɪstɹˈʌktɪv tˈɛstɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
testing that does not damage the item
A way to test or check something, usually in engineering, without breaking it or changing it permanently.
Příklady
- The aircraft parts are checked using non-destructive testing methods like X-ray and ultrasound.
- Non-destructive testing allows engineers to find cracks without cutting the metal open.
- Because the statue is priceless, only non-destructive testing is allowed.
self-destructive
1/sˈɛlf dɪstɹˈʌktɪv/
fixed phrase
harming or sabotaging oneself
Behaving in a way that hurts yourself or your own life, even when you know it is bad for you.
Příklady
- His drinking became self-destructive and cost him his job and his relationship.
- She has a self-destructive habit of pushing away anyone who tries to help her.
- Therapy helped him understand why he repeated the same self-destructive patterns.