as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm
DDT has been proven to be extremely harmful to the environment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harmful
At its least harmful, the message players wore across their chests Sunday trivializes a life-altering situation as inconsequential and secondary for those who lack the fame and platform to remind us of the permanent effects.
—
Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
The move follows rising concerns over children’s exposure to inappropriate or harmful content from chatbots, lawsuits and congressional scrutiny, and comes as firms like OpenAI have pledged new parental controls.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Traditional cleanup approaches often involve prolonged heating or corrosive chemicals, both costly and environmentally harmful.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart multiplayer systems can match children with age-appropriate peers and enforce community standards that discourage harmful interactions.
—Edna Martinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025
The move follows rising concerns over children’s exposure to inappropriate or harmful content from chatbots, lawsuits and congressional scrutiny, and comes as firms like OpenAI have pledged new parental controls.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
Traditional cleanup approaches often involve prolonged heating or corrosive chemicals, both costly and environmentally harmful.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025
Smart multiplayer systems can match children with age-appropriate peers and enforce community standards that discourage harmful interactions.
—Edna Martinson, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
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Research is also abundant on the long-term detrimental impact of childhood trauma on a person’s mental and physical health through their adult life.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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It can be gone in the blink of an eye, so to spend it on people that aren’t fulfilling me and to spend it on work that isn’t fulfilling me, to spend it on anything that isn’t fulfilling, is detrimental to him.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Trump is never shy of responding to criticism that is damaging to him from any source.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Historical accounts include stories of big storms and damaging winds and surf, but the modern record begins in 1950.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Demonizing or attempting to eliminate those who think differently – literally or symbolically – has become a dangerous norm, which is all too evident in the wake of the Kirk shooting.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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During volatile periods, this becomes especially dangerous because customer loyalty becomes more fragile and harder to rebuild.—
Talbott Roche,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Swift and Lively’s long friendship had been a distinct sub-plot in the IEWU legal battles, with tabloid fodder that the duo have fallen out over the controversy adverse Eras Tour performer getting tainted with the whole thing.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
12 Sep. 2025
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The potential adverse consequences to entrepreneurs when well-being is disregarded are well-documented.—
Samantha Dewalt,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But that’s actually a bad thing for a couple reasons.—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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But worse than the poverty was the verbal and physical abuse from his father.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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