detrimentaldet‧ri‧men‧tal /ˌdetrəˈmentl◂/ ●○○ adjective formal 
Smoking is detrimental to your health. the detrimental effect of pollution on the environment► see thesaurus at harmful—detrimentally adverb
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- At the same time, medical and social science research began to indicate that retirement itself had detrimental effects.
- However, too much or little anxiety will always affect any performance in a detrimental way.
- In 15 of the 37 cases, strong stemming decreased precision, but the cross-referencing was never detrimental.
- Long-acting drugs, like many sleeping pills, are especially detrimental to the elderly.
- She added that any attempt to restrict the availability of parents could have a detrimental effect on children.
- The application with the particularly detrimental effect on operators' jobs was the biscuit dough mixing automation.
THESAURUS
causing physical harm – used especially about things that cause harm to your health, the environment etc: · Smoking is harmful to your health.· drugs with harmful side effects
to have a harmful effect on someone or something. This phrase is very commonly used in everyday English when saying that something is harmful: · Everyone knows that too much alcohol is bad for you.
used about things that cause permanent physical harm, or that have a bad effect in other ways, for example on people’s opinion of someone: · Acid rain has a damaging effect on trees and the soil.· The allegations were very damaging to his career.· Constant criticism is damaging to a child’s self-esteem.
formal causing harm or having a bad effect on something: · Employers are worried that the new laws will have a detrimental effect on their business.· chemicals that are detrimental to the environment· policies that have been detrimental to the interests of old people
a negative effect is one that is bad and causes problems: · The car tax had a negative effect on car sales.· the negative impact of the recession in the US
hazardous substances are likely to be dangerous to people’s health and safety: · Hazardous waste needs to be disposed of safely.· hazardous chemicals
toxic substances, smoke etc are poisonous: · toxic waste· toxic fumes· Toxic chemicals spilled into the river.
formal used about something that has a gradual bad effect which is not easy to notice, especially on people’s morals, or on their health: · the pernicious effects of violent video games· the pernicious effect of secondhand smoke
Longman Language Activatorto harm a person, group, country etc to have a bad effect on something, in a way that makes it weaker, less effective, or less successful: · Walking out without giving any notice will only harm your career.· Any scandal will certainly harm the company's reputation.· These new export restrictions are sure to harm the economy.· The most important consideration is that the environment is not harmed.
to permanently harm something such as the success, health, or image of a person, organization etc so that they are not as effective as before: · Several recent events have damaged the government's public image.· This is likely to damage Scott's reputation even more.seriously/badly damage something: · Smoking can seriously damage your health.· The company's future prospects will be badly damaged if this deal falls through.
to change or effect something in a harmful way: · Drinking so much is bound to have a bad effect on your health.· An increase in interest rates at the present time would definitely be bad for business.
to have a sudden bad effect on someone or something, harming them badly: · A sudden rise in inflation always hits living standards.be badly hit: · Southern England has been badly hit by flooding, and many homes are now without power.hit something/somebody hard: · Elderly people were the hardest hit by the increase in tax on fuel.
to have a bad effect on an organization or activity, by making it less successful or effective: · Most companies have been hurt by the economic slowdown.· This is mainly going to hurt those who already have least.
to harm the plans, chances, confidence etc of a person or organization: · It would be stupid to pretend this was anything but a blow to the prime minister.be a big/serious/severe etc blow: · The incident was a severe blow to UN peace efforts.· Losing the match against Rumania, dealt a huge blow to the team.
to harm something such as an ability or the way a body or system works - use this especially in medical or technical contexts: · If a witness is allowed to withhold evidence, it impairs the legal process.· Alcohol significantly impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery.
formal to be likely to harm something: · Working in front of a computer all day may be detrimental to your eyesight.· Any further housing development will be detrimental to the character of this small town.
if you do something at the expense of someone or something else, you do it in order to gain an advantage, even if it harms them or has a bad effect on them: · Cigarette manufacturers continue to pursue profit at the expense of our children.· Many people are now working a fifty or sixty hour week, at the expense of their family life.
to seriously harm something by causing a lot of harm and confusion: · A major computer failure wrought havoc on the New York Subway last night.wreak havoc/play havoc with: · Working so late is starting to play havoc with her social life.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY the detrimental effect of pollution on the environmentCOLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
causing harm or damage SYN harmful, damagingdetrimental to the detrimental effect of pollution on the environment (=bad or harmful)· the negative effects of low rainfall
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· Yesterday, it became apparent that those involved in greyhound racing feared that it would have a detrimental effect on their business.· She had not learned that her dedicated efforts to achieve personal goals could have a detrimental effect on the work of others.· They must have some detrimental effect, either physical or economic, on employees, consumers or the general public.· Some of the studies showed that yo-yo dieting has clear detrimental effects, and others did not.· Subsequently, a serious accident at the company's water-theme park in Surrey had a detrimental effect on its public profile.· Segregation of white and colored children in public schools has a detrimental effect upon the colored children.· At the same time, medical and social science research began to indicate that retirement itself had detrimental effects.· He says if it happens consistently it will have a detrimental effect.
Smoking is detrimental to your health. the detrimental effect of pollution on the environment► see thesaurus at harmful—detrimentally adverb