Careful Words

destructive (adj.)

Man, false man, smiling, destructive man!

Nathaniel Lee (1655-1692): Theodosius. Act iii. Sc. 2.

What mighty ills have not been done by woman!

Who was 't betrayed the Capitol?—A woman!

Who lost Mark Antony the world?—A woman!

Who was the cause of a long ten years' war,

And laid at last old Troy in ashes?—Woman!

Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman!

Thomas Otway (1651-1685): The Orphan. Act iii. Sc. 1.