Destructieve

Destructieve is the inflected form of the Dutch adjective destructief, meaning destructive. In Dutch, adjectives agree with the noun they modify in gender, number, and definiteness; destructieve is typically used before a definite noun or in the plural, as in de destructieve kracht (the destructive force) or destructieve krachten (destructive forces). The form may appear in technical, scientific, and journalistic language to describe phenomena, processes, or objects that cause damage, decay, or breakdown. In everyday use, destructieve can also describe metaphorical or social damage, such as destructieve beleidsmaatregelen (destructive policy measures).

The word originates in Latin destructivus, through French destructif, into Dutch. It is cognate with descriptive terms in many European languages, and related terms include destructie (destruction) and destructief (the base adjective). In contemporary Dutch, destructief is common in neutral or formal contexts, while destructieve appears in fixed phrases or before plural nouns.