Destrutivo vs. destruidor
While both destrutivo and destruidor can translate to "destructive," they serve different grammatical and contextual roles. Destrutivo generally describes the quality or nature of something that causes harm (often abstract), whereas destruidor often acts as the active agent causing the ruin or implies a devastating, crushing impact.
Destrutivo
B1This implies that something has the inherent capability, tendency, or specific purpose to cause damage. It is commonly used to describe abstract concepts, behaviors, negative cycles, or gradual harm.
Ele fez uma crítica destrutiva durante a reunião.
(He made a destructive criticism during the meeting.)
O vício em açúcar é um hábito destrutivo para a saúde.
(Sugar addiction is a destructive habit for one's health.)
Eles estão presos em um relacionamento destrutivo.
(They are trapped in a destructive relationship.)
Os testes mediram o potencial destrutivo da arma.
(The tests measured the destructive potential of the weapon.)
Destruidor
B2This word functions as an intensifying adjective or a noun (meaning "destroyer"). It focuses on the active force performing the destruction or emphasizes a crushing, total, or emotionally devastating impact.
O furacão foi a força destruidora da cidade.
(The hurricane was the destroying force of the city.)
Recebemos uma notícia destruidora sobre o acidente.
(We received crushing news about the accident.)
Conan, o Destruidor, é um filme famoso.
(Conan the Destroyer is a famous movie.)
O time sofreu uma derrota destruidora na final.
(The team suffered a devastating defeat in the final.)
Summary
Use destrutivo when describing the harmful nature or characteristic of something (like a destructive comment or cycle). Use destruidor when identifying the active agent causing the ruin (the destroyer) or to describe something with an immediately devastating or crushing impact.