as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
nicotine has long been recognized as a deleterious substance
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Recent Examples of deleterious
Which makes sense, considering prior research into the deleterious effects of stress.
—
New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
Wealth extraction is not often talked about, but a very fundamental force that can be productive and radically deleterious to an organization’s ultimate and continued success.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But the volatility between our two nations has had other deleterious consequences for our economy.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Anesthetics are powerful and can impart lasting deleterious effects, particularly on the very young and the elderly.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deleterious
New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2025
Wealth extraction is not often talked about, but a very fundamental force that can be productive and radically deleterious to an organization’s ultimate and continued success.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But the volatility between our two nations has had other deleterious consequences for our economy.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Anesthetics are powerful and can impart lasting deleterious effects, particularly on the very young and the elderly.
—Big Think, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for deleterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deleterious
Adjective
-
Ultimately, however, Kato said, the goal should not be to replace one plastic bead with a less harmful one.—
TRAVIS LOLLER,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Keep an eye out for any legitimate potential problems, especially those involving money, but there’s no need to assume harmful intentions.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Doris Roberts, the owner and principal designer at Doris Roberts Interiors, explains how excess moisture can be detrimental to carpeting, which absorbs it like a sponge.—
Marisa Suzanne Martin,
The Spruce,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the pressure to upgrade skills and learn the difficult jumps on joints that are still growing can be detrimental for athletes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kiosks should be designed to detect drug combinations or conditions with higher risks for adverse events and these high-risk scenarios should be automatically flagged for real-time clinician review or to be reviewed within 24 hours of dispensing.—
Mark A. Munger,
STAT,
13 Feb. 2026
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The sharp rise in chocolate prices owes to a cocoa shortage caused primarily by adverse weather and crop disease in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of the world’s cocoa, some analysts told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Large hail up to quarter size and damaging winds of up to 60 mph are possible both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evenings.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
12 Feb. 2026
-
But growth stalled, due both to the pandemic and damaging revelations about Glossier’s corporate culture during the racial justice movement following the murder of George Floyd.—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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As Son combined with Denis Bouanga – MLS’ most dangerous attacker three years running – the club counted 19 of its last 22 regular-season goals (plus four of six in the postseason) thanks to them.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
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Ten manufacturers of ultraprocessed foods are also facing a lawsuit, filed in December by San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu, that alleges companies knowingly engineered and marketed addictive, dangerous products while hiding the risks and causing a public health crisis.—
Sarah Koch,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deleterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deleterious. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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