Synonym Chooser

How is the word baneful different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of baneful are deleterious, detrimental, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

In what contexts can deleterious take the place of baneful?

While in some cases nearly identical to baneful, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When is detrimental a more appropriate choice than baneful?

The words detrimental and baneful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

Where would noxious be a reasonable alternative to baneful?

The words noxious and baneful can be used in similar contexts, but noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

When is it sensible to use pernicious instead of baneful?

Although the words pernicious and baneful have much in common, pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of baneful The baneful effects of war on public speech and freedoms in Russia have been well recorded. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2022 The impact these soldiers had on the South was baneful. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 We are mired in a baneful pandemic unlike anything endured for a century, parsing our lives into 14-day increments of health and survival — or not. Peter M. Leschak, Star Tribune, 31 July 2020 To home in on what gives these peculiar primates their baneful bite, Fry and his colleagues collected the underarm secretions from a handful of wild slow lorises housed at a research station in Indonesia and isolated the proteins within. Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Feb. 2020 This resulted in all the baneful consequences of the French Revolution, which Edmund Burke so brilliantly exposed in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. Jaithirth Rao, Quartz India, 4 Nov. 2019 Chaos convincingly ebbs and flows in this rattling film, a baneful tide lapping at some of history’s most troubled shores. Richard Lawson, HWD, 20 July 2017 Chaos convincingly ebbs and flows in this rattling film, a baneful tide lapping at some of history’s most troubled shores. Richard Lawson, vanityfair.com, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baneful
Adjective
  • In more extreme cases, happiness can also be derived from sources that are harmful to others.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
  • That chamber is sealed, plus the SoftGel is non-toxic, so harmful fumes reportedly shouldn't be a problem.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The specialty retailer’s chief financial officer, Robert Ball, said Abercrombie has seen about $5 million in adverse impact from tariffs during the second quarter, chiefly manifested in the cost of sales, and expects $90 million net impact from tariffs for the year.
    Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
  • This tool helps with reading, writing, summarizing, adverse-event profile reviews, label comparisons, clinical protocol assessments, and even generating database code.
    Sixteen Ramos, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Meanwhile, from an AI duality perspective, there is also a solid chance that AI can be detrimental to mental health.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • These die-offs have caused detrimental imbalances within the habitats.
    Lauren Liebhaber September 5, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Whatever happens in their final qualifier, against Argentina on Tuesday, La Tri will travel to the World Cup next summer as one of South America’s most dangerous teams.
    Jack Lang, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • To dissidents, she has been seen as a hero putting her life on the line; to Modi’s supporters, as a dangerous subversive who is anti-national and anti-Hindu.
    Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service in Nashville said the region is at a slight risk, a two on the five-step scale, for damaging winds, isolated large hail, heavy rains, frequent lightning and a possible tornado.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The terrifying part is that these attacks are likely to become more frequent and more damaging.
    Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This was a classic Smith performance with tons of yardage and some risky throws with both good and bad results.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • You were called something much worse, and [it was] accepted.
    Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Baneful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baneful. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on baneful

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