diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index eb1bf995..bbc618dc 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -523,6 +523,8 @@ The `apply` subcommand can make changes, but under the following conditions:
 8. Before applying, the tool checks the cluster ID against the expected value in the
   cluster config. This can help prevent errors around applying in the wrong cluster when multiple
   clusters are accessed through the same address, e.g `localhost:2181`.
+9. If the `destructive` CLI argument is passed, `apply` deletes the settings that are
+  set on the broker but not set in configuration.
 
 The `reset-offsets` command can also make changes in the cluster and should be used carefully.
 
diff --git a/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/apply.go b/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/apply.go
index 5e4e6ee4..9044268e 100644
--- a/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/apply.go
+++ b/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/apply.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type applyCmdConfig struct {
 	retentionDropStepDurationStr string
 	skipConfirm                  bool
 	ignoreFewerPartitionsError   bool
+	destructive                  bool
 	sleepLoopDuration            time.Duration
 	failFast                     bool
 
@@ -107,6 +108,12 @@ func init() {
 		false,
 		"Don't return error when topic's config specifies fewer partitions than it currently has",
 	)
+	applyCmd.Flags().BoolVar(
+		&applyConfig.destructive,
+		"destructive",
+		false,
+		"Deletes topic settings from the broker if the settings are present on the broker but not in the config",
+	)
 	applyCmd.Flags().DurationVar(
 		&applyConfig.sleepLoopDuration,
 		"sleep-loop-duration",
@@ -259,6 +266,7 @@ func applyTopic(
 			RetentionDropStepDuration:  applyConfig.retentionDropStepDuration,
 			SkipConfirm:                applyConfig.skipConfirm,
 			IgnoreFewerPartitionsError: applyConfig.ignoreFewerPartitionsError,
+			Destructive:                applyConfig.destructive,
 			SleepLoopDuration:          applyConfig.sleepLoopDuration,
 			TopicConfig:                topicConfig,
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/rebalance.go b/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/rebalance.go
index 7823a251..2b629023 100644
--- a/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/rebalance.go
+++ b/cmd/topicctl/subcmd/rebalance.go
@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ func rebalanceApplyTopic(
 		AutoContinueRebalance:      true,                      // to continue without prompts
 		RetentionDropStepDuration:  retentionDropStepDuration, // not needed for rebalance
 		SkipConfirm:                true,                      // to enforce action: rebalance
+		Destructive:                false,                     // Irrelevant here
 		SleepLoopDuration:          rebalanceConfig.sleepLoopDuration,
 		TopicConfig:                topicConfig,
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/apply/apply.go b/pkg/apply/apply.go
index 20eede18..408dbf8b 100644
--- a/pkg/apply/apply.go
+++ b/pkg/apply/apply.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type TopicApplierConfig struct {
 	RetentionDropStepDuration  time.Duration
 	SkipConfirm                bool
 	IgnoreFewerPartitionsError bool
+	Destructive                bool
 	SleepLoopDuration          time.Duration
 	TopicConfig                config.TopicConfig
 }
@@ -392,6 +393,8 @@ func (t *TopicApplier) updateSettings(
 		return err
 	}
 
+	configEntries := []kafka.ConfigEntry{}
+
 	if len(diffKeys) > 0 {
 		diffsTable, err := FormatSettingsDiff(topicSettings, topicInfo.Config, diffKeys)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -416,6 +419,23 @@ func (t *TopicApplier) updateSettings(
 			)
 		}
 
+		configEntries, err = topicSettings.ToConfigEntries(diffKeys)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if len(missingKeys) > 0 && t.config.Destructive {
+		log.Infof(
+			"Found %d key(s) set in cluster but missing from config to be deleted:\n%s",
+			len(missingKeys),
+			FormatMissingKeys(topicInfo.Config, missingKeys),
+		)
+
+		configEntries = append(configEntries, topicSettings.ToEmptyConfigEntries(missingKeys)...)
+	}
+
+	if len(configEntries) > 0 {
 		if t.config.DryRun {
 			log.Infof("Skipping update because dryRun is set to true")
 			return nil
@@ -430,11 +450,6 @@ func (t *TopicApplier) updateSettings(
 		}
 		log.Infof("OK, updating")
 
-		configEntries, err := topicSettings.ToConfigEntries(diffKeys)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
 		_, err = t.adminClient.UpdateTopicConfig(
 			ctx,
 			t.topicName,
@@ -446,7 +461,7 @@ func (t *TopicApplier) updateSettings(
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(missingKeys) > 0 {
+	if len(missingKeys) > 0 && !t.config.Destructive {
 		log.Warnf(
 			"Found %d key(s) set in cluster but missing from config:\n%s\nThese will be left as-is.",
 			len(missingKeys),
diff --git a/pkg/apply/apply_test.go b/pkg/apply/apply_test.go
index 033cdff9..78d4c9ad 100644
--- a/pkg/apply/apply_test.go
+++ b/pkg/apply/apply_test.go
@@ -80,6 +80,27 @@ func TestApplyBasicUpdates(t *testing.T) {
 	applier.topicConfig.Spec.ReplicationFactor = 3
 	err = applier.Apply(ctx)
 	require.NotNil(t, err)
+	applier.topicConfig.Spec.ReplicationFactor = 2
+
+	// Settings are not deleted if Destructive is false. They are
+	// if it is true
+	delete(applier.topicConfig.Spec.Settings, "cleanup.policy")
+	err = applier.Apply(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	topicInfo, err = applier.adminClient.GetTopic(ctx, topicName, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, "delete", topicInfo.Config["cleanup.policy"])
+
+	applier.config.Destructive = true
+	err = applier.Apply(ctx)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	topicInfo, err = applier.adminClient.GetTopic(ctx, topicName, true)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	_, present := topicInfo.Config["cleanup.policy"]
+	assert.False(t, present)
+
 }
 
 func TestApplyPlacementUpdates(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pkg/config/settings.go b/pkg/config/settings.go
index 1a5c6621..bfbe6b1a 100644
--- a/pkg/config/settings.go
+++ b/pkg/config/settings.go
@@ -346,6 +346,22 @@ func (t TopicSettings) ToConfigEntries(keys []string) ([]kafka.ConfigEntry, erro
 	return entries, nil
 }
 
+// Produces a slice of kafka-go config entries with empty value. Thus used
+// for deletion of the setting.
+func (t TopicSettings) ToEmptyConfigEntries(keys []string) []kafka.ConfigEntry {
+	entries := []kafka.ConfigEntry{}
+
+	if keys != nil {
+		for _, key := range keys {
+			entries = append(
+				entries,
+				kafka.ConfigEntry{ConfigName: key, ConfigValue: ""},
+			)
+		}
+	}
+	return entries
+}
+
 // HasKey returns whether the current settings instance contains the argument key.
 func (t TopicSettings) HasKey(key string) bool {
 	_, ok := t[key]