disruptive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "disruptive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something or someone who has caused a disturbance or an interruption in the normal course of operations. Example sentence: The disruptive behavior of the teenagers caused a disturbance in the movie theater.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He said the industry's conventional wisdom was it was better to carry out major disruptive work over holiday periods, but added: "This level of disruption is wholly unacceptable and I am confident that Network Rail will learn necessary lessons to stop these things happening again".

The Guardian

Also, it is true that the sheer scale of service-sector employment within an advanced economy arouses anxiety, unwarranted though it may be, about how disruptive the new forces of competition will be.At the moment, the likely disruption to patterns of employment is surely being exaggerated.

The Economist

He also voiced concern that disruptive behaviour by drunks and their friends poses a risk to other patients.

The Guardian

Disruptive healthcare innovations can turbo-boost the quality, safety and efficiency of care.

The Guardian

In a mall, such thinking counts as disruptive activity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expansion into Spain is key...The model is low risk and pricing seems to be disruptive.

The Guardian - Business

They've pooh-poohed the mounting evidence that disruptive climate change is already underway.

The Guardian

But just being charged is massively disruptive to one's life, which I think is the point.

The Guardian

Related: Tea is a national disgrace | Joel Dolby I did wonder, when I read this, what Moss was supposed to have done to be disruptive.

The Guardian - Opinion

If my school had offered a similar scheme, perhaps I wouldn't have wound up taking a painful, expensive and disruptive year out from university.

The Guardian

The constant threat of violence was matched by a wave of massively disruptive strikes provoked by prime minister Alain Juppé's austerity measures.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a technology or business model, use "disruptive" to highlight its innovative and market-altering qualities.

Common error

Avoid using "disruptive" simply to mean 'different' or 'new'. Ensure the change genuinely creates significant market or operational upheaval.

Linguistic Context

The word "disruptive" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes disturbance, interruption, or significant change. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "disruptive" is a commonly used adjective that describes something causing disturbance or significant change. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides many examples across news, business, and scientific contexts. Its function is to highlight impactful changes, and while it can be used in formal and informal settings, it's more prevalent in neutral and professional registers. To avoid misuse, ensure the change truly creates upheaval, not just novelty. Consider alternatives like "troublesome" or "destabilizing" depending on the intended nuance. Also, note disruptive innovation is the correct term, not disruption innovation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disturbing

This alternative highlights the unsettling or alarming aspect of the disruption.

troublesome

This alternative focuses more on the difficulty or inconvenience caused.

destabilizing

This alternative emphasizes the loss of stability as a consequence.

tumultuous

This word emphasizes the chaotic and turbulent nature of the disruption.

problematic

This term focuses on the issues and difficulties that arise from the disruption.

transformative

This focuses on the profound and lasting changes brought about.

unsettling

This highlights the anxiety and unease caused by the disruption.

revolutionary

This term focuses on the potential for fundamental change and upheaval.

innovative

This alternative emphasizes the novelty and transformative potential of the disruption.

groundbreaking

This emphasizes the unprecedented and pioneering nature of the disruption.

FAQs

How can I use "disruptive" in a sentence?

You can use "disruptive" to describe something that causes a disturbance or significant change, such as "The new technology had a "disruptive effect" on the industry".

What can I say instead of "disruptive"?

You can use alternatives like "troublesome", "tumultuous", or "destabilizing" depending on the context.

Which is correct: "disruptive innovation" or "disruption innovation"?

"Disruptive innovation" is the correct term. "Disruption innovation" is not a standard or recognized phrase.

What's the difference between "disruptive" and "innovative"?

"Disruptive" implies a disturbance or significant change to the existing order, while "innovative" simply means introducing something new. A disruptive innovation is necessarily innovative, but not all innovations are "disruptive".