How to pronounce destructive
Say it like dih-STRUHK-tiv. Destructive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce destructive. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- STRUHK
- tiv
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Destructive pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- STRUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tivKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of destructive
American and British speakers say destructive in essentially the same way: /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/ in the US and /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-STRUHK-tiv.
What does destructive mean?
- causing destruction or much damage“a policy that is destructive to the economy”“destructive criticism”
Where does destructive come from?
From Middle English destructyve, from Middle French destructif, from Latin dēstrūctīvus, from past participle of dēstruere (“to tear down, destroy”) + -īvus.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with destructive
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of destructive.
- productive
- reproductive
- constructive
- seductive
- unproductive
- conductive
- instructive
- obstructive
- inductive
- reconstructive
Questions about saying destructive
How do you pronounce destructive?
Say dih-STRUHK-tiv. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/. In British English it is /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in destructive?
Destructive has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRUHK). Broken into parts: dih · STRUHK · tiv.
Do Americans and Brits say destructive the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/ and the British form is /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.