disruptive
adjective
dis·rup·tive
dis-ˈrəp-tiv 
: disrupting or tending to disrupt some process, activity, condition, etc. : causing or tending to cause disruption
a disruptive weather pattern
It is hoped that, if the child learns that disruptive behavior brings no rewards, his tantrums will diminish and perhaps stop.—
Susan Sheehan
Susan SheehanIn recent years, airlines began to carry plastic handcuffs as a way to restrain disruptive passengers.—Erik Holm
Erik HolmOther teammates marvel at how easily he morphs from a mild-mannered family man in the locker room into a disruptive force on the field.—Jefri Chadiha
Jefri Chadiha
disruptively
adverb
acting disruptively
disruptiveness
noun
… the disruptiveness of climatic change will depend strongly on the rate of change.
—Roger Revelle
Roger Revelle
Examples of disruptive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
One thing holding up more Democratic lawmakers and leaders from publicly calling on Biden to drop out is their deep uncertainty over how disruptive such a move would be.
—Tyler Pager, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Election observers showed up at several polling locations in the Milwaukee area Tuesday, and two of them were removed by police in Glendale for being disruptive while objecting to absentee ballots, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 2 July 2024
Most were charged with assaulting police officers who were on duty or with disorderly and disruptive conduct.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
The goal is preventing disruptive behavior, but in the case that there is significant disruption in the classroom that disturbs the educational environment for other students, the district has set protocol.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for disruptive 
Tyler Pager, Washington Post, 4 July 2024
Election observers showed up at several polling locations in the Milwaukee area Tuesday, and two of them were removed by police in Glendale for being disruptive while objecting to absentee ballots, Glendale Mayor Bryan Kennedy said.
—Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 2 July 2024
Most were charged with assaulting police officers who were on duty or with disorderly and disruptive conduct.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2024
The goal is preventing disruptive behavior, but in the case that there is significant disruption in the classroom that disturbs the educational environment for other students, the district has set protocol.
—Jennah Pendleton, Sacramento Bee, 27 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for disruptive
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Cite this Entry
“Disruptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disruptive. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
disruptive
adjective
dis·rup·tive
dis-ˈrəp-tiv
: characterized by psychologically disorganized behavior
a confused, incoherent, and disruptive patient in the manic phase
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