disruptive
/dɪsˈrʌp.tɪv/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Causing trouble, interruption, or a break in normal order. It can also describe a person or idea that changes an old system in a strong way.
- The noisy class was disruptive.
- Her disruptive ideas changed the company.
Adinary Nuance
Disruptive is stronger and more negative than disturbing or interruptive. It suggests something breaks normal activity, order, or calm. In business and tech, it can also be positive when a new idea changes an old market.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- gây gián đoạn
- Spanish
- disruptivo
- Chinese
- 破坏性的
- Japanese
- 破壊的な
- Korean
- 방해가 되는
Etymology
Disruptive comes from the verb disrupt, which entered English from Latin via French. It has been used in English since the 19th century.
Common phrases
disruptive behaviordisruptive changea disruptive forcedisruptive technology
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is disruptive a negative word?
- Usually, yes. It often means something causes trouble or stops normal activity.
- What is the difference between disruptive and disturbing?
- Disruptive means it breaks order or stops progress. Disturbing means it makes people worried, upset, or uncomfortable.
- Can disruptive be positive in business?
- Yes. It can describe a new idea or product that changes an industry in a big way.
- How do I use disruptive in a sentence?
- You can say, 'The meeting was disruptive,' or 'She introduced disruptive new software.'