Dictionary.com (http://www.dictionary.com/)
Thesaurus.com (http://www.thesaurus.com/)
Try Our Apps (http://www.dictionary.com/apps)
Log In (http://app.dictionary.com/login?source=header_core&logindest=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dictionary.com%2Fbrowse%2Fconstructive)
(http://www.dictionary.com/)
con-struc-tive CITE
[kuh n-struhk-tiv] Spell Syllables Synonyms
Examples
Word Origin
(http://www.dictionary.com/e/negative(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/kids-
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com (http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/constructive)
adjective 1.
Extra Cozy Words We Need Right Now (http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/cozy-words-cold-day/?src=dcom-serp-tab)
constructive
definitions
/)
farewells-listicle/?
create-best-
param=DcomSERP-
unintentionally-
RR1)
naughty-misspellings?
helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement (opposed to destructive (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/destructive) ): constructive criticism.
2.
of, relating to, or of the nature of construction (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/construction); structural.
3.
deduced by inference or interpretation; inferential: constructive permission.
4.
Law. denoting an act or condition not directly expressed but inferred from other acts or conditions.
param=DcomSERPRR2)
Word of the Day
astroturfing (http: //www.dictionary. Related Words com/wordoftheda y/)
destructive (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/destructive)
(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/oldest(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/nineties(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/sad(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/12english-words/? words/? words/? insults-we-shouldparam=DcomSERP- param=DcomSERP- param=DcomSERP- bring-back/? mid1) mid2) mid3) param=DcomSERPconstructive interference mid4) (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructive-
anabolism (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/anabolism) interference) destructive interference (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/destructiveinterference)
Origin of constructive
group therapy (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/grouptherapy) tectonics (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/tectonics) Medieval Latin (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/medievallatin)
Nearby words for constructive construction paper (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructionpaper) constructional (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructional) constructional homonymity (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructional-homonymity) constructionism (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructionism) constructionist (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructionist)
1670-1680
constructive
1670-80; < Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent to Latin constrūct(us) (see
(http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructive) constructive criticism (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructive-criticism) constructive dismissal (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructivedismissal) constructive interference (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructive-interference) constructively (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructively) constructiveness (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/constructiveness)
construct (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/construct) ) + īvus -ive (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/-ive)
Related forms constructively, adverb
Word Value for con-struc-tive
constructiveness, noun nonconstructive, adjective
19
nonconstructively, adverb
Scrabble
24 Words With Friends
nonconstructiveness, noun
Synonyms See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com (http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/constructive) 1. productive, helpful, handy, useful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018. Cite This Source
Examples from the Web for con-struc-tive Contemporary Examples constructive criticism is different from people just being dicks, and I love constructive criticism. Andrew Garfield on the Evils of Capitalism, the Hacking Scandal, and Criticism of ‘Spider-Man (http://www.thedailybeast.com? 2’ (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/10/andrew-garfield-on-the-evils-ofsource=dictionary) capitalism-the-hacking-scandal-and-criticism-of-spider-man-2.html?source=dictionary) Marlow Stern (http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/marlow-stern.html?source=dictionary) September 10, 2014
Reformers understood that constructive societal evolution was the antidote to socialist revolution. From The Square Deal to The New Deal: The Overlapping Political Identities of TR and FDR (http://www.thedailybeast.com? (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/09/09/from-the-square-deal-to-the-new-deal-thesource=dictionary) overlapping-political-identities-of-tr-and-fdr.html?source=dictionary) John Avlon (http://www.thedailybeast.com/contributors/john-avlon.html?source=dictionary) September 9, 2014
On Monday, European Union countries condemned the air strikes and called for a ceasefire and “constructive dialogue.”
British Dictionary definitions for con-struc-tive
constructive /knstrktv
/
adjective 1.
serving to build or improve; positive: constructive criticism
2.
(law) deduced by inference or construction; not expressed but inferred
3.
(law) having a deemed legal effect: constructive notice
4.
another word for structural (/browse/structural)
Derived Forms constructively, adverb constructiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Cite This Source
Word Origin and History for con-struc-tive adj. early 15c., "derived by interpretation," from Middle French constructif or from Medieval Latin constructivus, from Latin construct-, past participle stem of construere "to heap up" (see construction (/browse/construction)). Meaning "pertaining to construction" is from 1817; "having the quality of constructing" is from 1841. Related: Constructively. Constructive criticism is attested by 1841. Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper Cite This Source
Discover our greatest slideshows
(http://www.dictionary.com/slideshows/umwords) (http://www.dictionary.com/slideshows/sad-
Six words that can ruin your... (http://www.diction ary.com/slideshow s/umwords)
words)
10 Of The Saddest Words (Or... (http://www.diction ary.com/slideshow s/sad-words)
(http://www.dictionary.com/slideshows/oldest-(http://www.dictionary.com/slideshows/agedenglish-words)
The Oldest Words In The English... (http://www.diction ary.com/slideshow s/oldest-englishwords)
words)
10 Words That Will Show Your Age (http://www.diction ary.com/slideshow s/aged-words)
Browse more topics on our blog What Is the Difference Between Discreet and Discrete? (http://www.dictionary.com/e/discreet-and-discrete) Learn the correct uses of these two commonly confused homophones. What Character Was Removed from the Alphabet? (http://www.dictionary.com/e/ampersand) What mistaken pronunciation gave this character its name? Apostrophes 101 (http://www.dictionary.com/e/apostrophes-101) This small mark has two primary uses: to signify possession or omitted letters. How Do I Get a Word into the Dictionary? (http://www.dictionary.com/e/getting-wordsinto-dictionaries) People invent new words all the time, but which ones actually make it?
(http://www.dictionary.com/e/s/umwords/?par
© 2018 Dictionary.com, LLC.
About (http://content.dictionary.com/)
Terms & Privacy (http://www.dictionary.com/terms)
Avoid these words. Seriously.
