'destructionist' originates from English, specifically the word 'destruction' combined with the agentive suffix '-ist' (from Greek '-istēs' via Latin and French), where Latin 'destructio' meant 'a breaking down' and the components 'de-' meant 'down, away' and 'struere' meant 'to pile, build'.

'destruction' changed from Latin 'destructio' into Old French 'destruction' and Middle English 'destructioun', eventually becoming modern English 'destruction'; the modern English agent suffix '-ist' was added to form 'destructionist' to denote a person advocating or practicing destruction.

Initially it referred to the act or process of breaking down ('a breaking down'); over time 'destruction' came to mean 'the act of destroying' and adding '-ist' produced 'destructionist', meaning 'a person who favors or carries out destruction'.