as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment
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Recent Examples of detrimental
In this instance, using the AI advice could be detrimental to their livelihood.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The 5-foot-9 guard got suspended by the Dream for conduct detrimental to the team before being traded and failing to earn second contracts from the Sparks and Sky.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
The operation had an especially detrimental impact on many local businesses.
—Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026
Leaving Morabito on the bench except when facing lefties would be detrimental to his development.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The 5-foot-9 guard got suspended by the Dream for conduct detrimental to the team before being traded and failing to earn second contracts from the Sparks and Sky.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
The operation had an especially detrimental impact on many local businesses.
—Hannah Brueske, Twin Cities, 27 May 2026
Leaving Morabito on the bench except when facing lefties would be detrimental to his development.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
-
But others say research in Australia has shown that age verification is difficult to enforce, and that a blanket ban seemed to be a snap decision that does not address a deeper problem — the way social media algorithms push harmful content to young people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
-
There were also die-offs of seals, sea lions and marine birds, Leising said, probably from a combination of a lack of food and harmful algal blooms, and less food out there for baleen whales.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Another round of storms will develop near an advancing cold front in the afternoon across northeast Kansas, southern Iowa, and northern Missouri, possibly starting as supercells — large rotating thunderstorms — with very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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These storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and torrential rains.—
Tony Sadiku,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Under its bylaws, the Big 12 can punish a member school for engaging in actions materially adverse to the conference.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
-
Such insurance contracts are commonplace among teams and players to insure against adverse events, according to Karl Lockhart, a DePaul University law professor specialized in prediction markets.—
Camila Grigera Naon,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
That is exactly why these fake job offers are so dangerous.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Over the last week, the greatest threat of dangerous rip currents and sneaker waves has been on the beaches facing south or southwest, officials said.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
Brunson is at his best when everything is at its worst, blessed with belief that seems at times desperate and determination that can feel almost manic.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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All of the club’s worst seasons prior to 1965 took place from 1932 and before.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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