destructive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   causing destruction or much damage

   a policy that is destructive to the economy

2. 2
   adj

   Causing destruction; damaging.

   The pastures are filled with gay political drop-outs, persons of reasonable intent who found the scene personally destructive.

3. 3
   adj

   Causing breakdown or disassembly.

   Catabolism is a destructive metabolism that involves the breakdown of molecules and release of energy.

4. 4
   adj

   Lossy; causing irreversible change.

   Blurring an image is a destructive operation, but rotating an image is not.

Etymology

From Middle English destructyve, from Middle French destructif, from Latin dēstrūctīvus, from past participle of dēstruere (“to tear down, destroy”) + -īvus.