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View synonyms for constructive

constructive

[ kuhn-struhk-tiv ]

adjective

  1. helping to improve; promoting further development or advancement ( destructive ):

    constructive criticism.

    Synonyms: useful, handy, helpful, productive

  2. of, relating to, or of the nature of 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.


constructive

/ kənˈstrʌktɪv /

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
“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


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Derived Forms

  • conˈstructiveness, noun
  • conˈstructively, adverb
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Other Words From

  • con·structive·ly adverb
  • con·structive·ness noun
  • noncon·structive adjective
  • noncon·structive·ly adverb
  • noncon·structive·ness noun
  • quasi-con·structive adjective
  • quasi-con·structive·ly adverb
  • uncon·structive adjective
  • uncon·structive·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of constructive1

1670–80; < Medieval Latin constrūctīvus, equivalent to Latin constrūct(us) ( construct ) + īvus -ive
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Example Sentences

The disconnect between the “woke” and angry rhetoric of activist mobs keeping CEOs up at night, and these constructive, nuanced discussions could not have been more striking.

From Quartz

We believe that with constructive dialog and cooperation, a solution is within reach.

From Quartz

It talks about a lot of the problems that we have now in terms of being able to have a constructive conversation.

From Ozy

Likewise, China’s commerce ministry said the two sides held a “constructive dialogue” and agreed to “create conditions” to implement the trade deal.

From Fortune

June, we have held constructive conversations with Facebook to clearly outline the areas where we want to see tangible changes.

From Digiday

To do this, we need to be openly constructive, positive and ethical.

Constructive criticism is different from people just being dicks, and I love constructive criticism.

Reformers understood that constructive societal evolution was the antidote to socialist revolution.

On Monday, European Union countries condemned the air strikes and called for a ceasefire and “constructive dialogue.”

“We have since begun a constructive dialogue with the committee on the redactions,” Price said.

He saw now that her pain had not been as other pain; it was a constructive pain, a part of the task of her life.

With this clue to their meaning, it becomes possible to understand the main constructive proposals of the Majority Commissioners.

They did not think politics was a great constructive process, they thought it was a kind of dog-fight.

The great constructive process in history gives so little scope for clapping and drumming and saying "'Ear, 'ear!"

I would listen to a stormy sea of babblement, and try to extract some constructive intimations.

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construction paperconstructive dismissal