detrimental
1 of 2adjective
det·ri·men·tal ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
: obviously harmful : damaging
the detrimental effects of pollution
detrimentally
ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl-ē
adverb detrimental
2 of 2noun
det·ri·men·tal ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl
: an undesirable or harmful person or thing
Synonyms
Adjective
- adverse
- bad
- baleful
- baneful
- damaging
- dangerous
- deleterious
- evil
- harmful
- hurtful
- ill
- injurious
- mischievous
- nocuous
- noxious
- pernicious
- prejudicial
- wicked
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective In context, the word "corruption" summarized the opinion (set forth in some of the books mentioned in the review) that, as a general matter, the growing financial dependence of the medical profession on the pharmaceutical industry is profoundly detrimental to sound public, medical, and scientific policy. 
New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009 Healthy people can harbor Klebsiella to no detrimental effect; those with debilitating conditions, like liver disease or severe diabetes, or those recovering from major surgery, are most likely to fall ill. Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 & 18 Aug. 2008 Unfortunately, tourism, along with dynamite fishing and poaching, has proved detrimental to the park's coral reefs, mangrove complexes, coastal wetlands and marine species. Nature Conservancy Landmarks, Fall 2003 there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment
New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009 Healthy people can harbor Klebsiella to no detrimental effect; those with debilitating conditions, like liver disease or severe diabetes, or those recovering from major surgery, are most likely to fall ill. Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 & 18 Aug. 2008 Unfortunately, tourism, along with dynamite fishing and poaching, has proved detrimental to the park's coral reefs, mangrove complexes, coastal wetlands and marine species. Nature Conservancy Landmarks, Fall 2003 there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment Recent Examples on the Web Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022 Many of her counterparts were discouraged from participating in athletics by family as sports were often seen as detrimental to femininity. Gabby Hajduk, The Indianapolis Star, 1 July 2022 It also has been cited by federal regulators for conduct detrimental to animal welfare. The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2022 The horse trainer Bob Baffert should be barred from New York State racetracks for two years for conduct detrimental to thoroughbred racing, according to a recommendation issued Wednesday by a hearing officer. New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022 This could be perceived as detrimental to their stewardship of the organization. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021 Heeding the call of home developers, oil drillers and growers who saw the restrictions as detrimental to their livelihoods, the Trump administration rolled back those Obama-era pollution controls. Author: Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2021 Low enrollment in his electives had a detrimental effect on his department. WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Another detrimental side effect of an expensive Dollar is the struggle inflicted upon economic peers – particularly emerging markets – that have borrowed funds via USD. John Kicklighter, Forbes, 11 July 2022 See More
Adjective
Carter was one of the Sparks’ intriguing offseason acquisitions after the former Atlanta guard sat out most of last season because of a suspension for unspecified conduct detrimental to the team. Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2022 Many of her counterparts were discouraged from participating in athletics by family as sports were often seen as detrimental to femininity. Gabby Hajduk, The Indianapolis Star, 1 July 2022 It also has been cited by federal regulators for conduct detrimental to animal welfare. The Arizona Republic, 27 Apr. 2022 The horse trainer Bob Baffert should be barred from New York State racetracks for two years for conduct detrimental to thoroughbred racing, according to a recommendation issued Wednesday by a hearing officer. New York Times, 27 Apr. 2022 This could be perceived as detrimental to their stewardship of the organization. Jack Kelly, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2021 Heeding the call of home developers, oil drillers and growers who saw the restrictions as detrimental to their livelihoods, the Trump administration rolled back those Obama-era pollution controls. Author: Dino Grandoni, Anchorage Daily News, 9 June 2021 Low enrollment in his electives had a detrimental effect on his department. WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Another detrimental side effect of an expensive Dollar is the struggle inflicted upon economic peers – particularly emerging markets – that have borrowed funds via USD. John Kicklighter, Forbes, 11 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
see detriment
Noun
see detriment
First Known Use
Adjective
1590, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1831, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
detrimental
adjective
det·ri·men·tal
ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl
: causing damage or injury
The detrimental effects of smoking are well known.
detrimental
adjective
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- harmful
- damaging
- adverse
- dangerous
- bad
- deleterious
- injurious
- hazardous
- prejudicial
- poisonous
- pernicious
- hurtful
- infectious
- evil
- baneful
- destructive
- noxious
- ill
- mischievous
- hostile
- wicked
- nocuous
- unsafe
- baleful
- deadly
- threatening
- inimical
- risky
- lethal
- jeopardizing
- unfriendly
- sinister
- infective
- insidious
- venomous
- unhealthy
- imperiling
- fatal
- perilous
- ominous
- ruinous
- contagious
- menacing
- unhealthful
- pestilential
- pestiferous
- unwholesome
- pestilent
- unsound
- imperilling
- malignant
- parlous
- killer
- nasty
- noisome
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- beneficial
- harmless
- safe
- advantageous
- useful
- benign
- innocuous
- innocent
- favorable
- good
- inoffensive
- anodyne
- healthy
- helpful
- propitious
- salutary
- healthful
- wholesome
- remedial
- salubrious
- hurtless
- curative
- sound
- secure
- palliative
- nontoxic
- nondestructive
- benignant
- nonpoisonous
- nonlethal
- noncorrosive
- noninfectious
- nonfatal
- nonpolluting
- nonvenomous
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of detrimental are baneful, deleterious, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.
the detrimental effects of excessive drinking
While the synonyms baneful and detrimental are close in meaning, baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.
the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity
The meanings of deleterious and detrimental largely overlap; however, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.
a diet found to have deleterious effects
The synonyms noxious and detrimental are sometimes interchangeable, but noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.
noxious chemical fumes
While in some cases nearly identical to detrimental, pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.
the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society