destructivo

des-trook-TEE-boh/des.tɾukˈti.βo/

“destructivo” means “destructive” in Spanish (causing great and irreparable damage).

destructive

Also: harmful

AdjectivemB1

A child's wooden block tower knocked over and scattered across the floor.

📝 In Action

El fuego fue muy destructivo y quemó todo el bosque.

The fire was very destructive and burned the whole forest.

Debes evitar los comentarios destructivos en el trabajo.

You should avoid destructive comments at work.

Tiene un comportamiento autodestructivo que me preocupa.

He has self-destructive behavior that worries me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

devastador (devastating)
dañino (harmful)
perjudicial (detrimental)

Antonyms

constructivo (constructive)
beneficioso (beneficial)

Common Collocations

crítica destructiva – destructive criticism
arma destructiva – destructive weapon
hábito destructivo – destructive habit

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "destructivo" in Spanish:

destructive→harmful→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: destructivo

Question 1 of 3

Which of these is the opposite (antonym) of 'destructivo'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

destruir(to destroy) — Verb

destrucción(destruction) — Noun

destructor(destroyer) — Noun

destructivamente(destructively) — Adverb

🎵 Rhymes▼

objetivo activo atractivo

📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'destructivus', which comes from 'destruere', meaning to un-build or pull down.

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

French: destructifItalian: distruttivo

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'destructivo' always mean physical damage?

No. While it can describe physical things like bombs or storms, it is very frequently used to describe attitudes, relationships, or words that cause emotional or psychological harm.

What is the difference between 'destructivo' and 'dañino'?

They are very similar, but 'destructivo' implies a higher level of total ruin or breaking something apart, while 'dañino' just means it causes some level of harm or hurt.

Can I use 'destructivo' for people?

Yes, you can describe a person as 'destructivo' if their actions or personality tend to ruin things or hurt others around them.