disruptive

[ dis-ruhp-tiv ]

adjective

1. causing, tending to cause, or caused by disruption; disrupting:

   the disruptive effect of their rioting.

2. Business.
   1. relating to or noting a new product, service, or idea that radically changes an industry or business strategy, especially by creating a new market and disrupting an existing one:

      disruptive innovations such as the cell phone and the two-year community college.

   2. relating to or noting a business executive or company that introduces or is receptive to such innovation:

      disruptive CEOs with imagination and vision.

disruptive

/ dɪsˈrʌptɪv /

adjective

1. involving, causing, or tending to cause disruption

Derived Forms

• disˈruptively, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·ruptive·ly adverb
• dis·ruptive·ness noun
• nondis·ruptive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of disruptive¹

First recorded in 1835–45; disrupt + -ive

Example Sentences

All of these factors make forecasting this zone of potentially disruptive snow very tricky - and this uncertainty is likely to stay in weather forecasts until the day before any snow is due to hit.

From BBC

Paul, who grew up in Ohio, originally became famous on YouTube for his disruptive antics.

From Los Angeles Times

He said displacement is also disruptive and departing tenants could “fall through the cracks” and not receive their money, find temporary housing and return to a new home.

From Los Angeles Times

She said the school felt the restraints were "a necessary and proportionate means of managing disruptive behaviour".

From BBC

The island became the first to use this approach successfully because the water system is owned by the community, making the work a more efficient and less disruptive alternative to conventional cable laying methods.

From BBC

Related Words

• disturbing
• rowdy
• troublesome
• unruly
• upsetting