Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of deleterious are baneful, detrimental, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When is baneful a more appropriate choice than deleterious?

The synonyms baneful and deleterious are sometimes interchangeable, but baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

When would detrimental be a good substitute for deleterious?

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

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

When can noxious be used instead of deleterious?

The meanings of noxious and deleterious largely overlap; however, noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

Where would pernicious be a reasonable alternative to deleterious?

The words pernicious and deleterious can be used in similar contexts, but 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 deleterious This resulting pollution has had deleterious effects on the area’s residents, with some pockets of the region being estimated to confer a 700-times greater cancer risk relative to the national average. Henna Hundal, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 Negative effects on economy A consensus has also developed that Trump’s tariffs are having a deleterious effect on the U.S. economy. Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025 Not to mention that on a more macro scale, hardly anything threatens our economy and our society more than the deleterious impacts of unchecked climate change. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025 Whether imposed by the U.S. or a foreign government, adopting drug price controls in the U.S. will have the same deleterious impacts – rising drug shortages coupled with sharply lower incentives to develop new medicines. Wayne Winegarden, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deleterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deleterious
Adjective
  • Research has found that building roads can fragment habitats, disrupt ecosystems, and increase erosion and sediment pollution in drinking water, among other potentially harmful outcomes.
    Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
  • This kind of leadership without empathy is not only unsustainable but actively harmful to morale and performance.
    Jody Michael, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • This is especially detrimental because personal health doesn’t send urgent alerts the way business metrics do.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • Along with cannabis, alcohol consumption and smoking can be detrimental to fertility.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 27 June 2025
Adjective
  • Risks and precautions Research has shown that NSAIDs have multiple adverse effects and should be used with caution, both doctors pointed out.
    Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 18 June 2025
  • Hall’s Visual Language Access and Acquisition Lab is a leader in researching those adverse effects and possible solutions.
    Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
Adjective
  • The primary risks for the Midwest will be damaging winds, hail, flash flooding and the possibility of tornadoes.
    Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 23 June 2025
  • The National Weather Service issued a moderate risk alert for severe thunderstorms across parts of North Dakota and Minnesota, warning that conditions could lead to tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail throughout Friday evening and overnight.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • After landing, the most dangerous times, statistically speaking, are takeoff, approach, and initial climb.
    Katie Jackson, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2025
  • And the Santa Barbara temblor revealed just how dangerous brick buildings built in that era could be.
    Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deleterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deleterious. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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