as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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detrimental effects
detrimental behavior
detrimental substances
detrimental aspects
a detrimental disturbance
a disruptive disturbance
a distressing disturbance
an undesirable disturbance
an adverse disturbance
a considerable disturbance
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of detrimental
President Donald Trump's economic agenda is having a detrimental impact on workplace mental health, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).
—
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
This finding highlights the detrimental effects of excessive heat combined with habitat destruction.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Losing the rebounding battle could prove detrimental for the Pacers’ hopes of getting past New York.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Less than six months into his second term as president, Donald Trump has initiated or proposed more than 150 actions that experts say are detrimental to the environment, which range from cancelling climate grant programs to loosening regulations that govern air and water quality.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025
This finding highlights the detrimental effects of excessive heat combined with habitat destruction.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
Losing the rebounding battle could prove detrimental for the Pacers’ hopes of getting past New York.
—James L. Edwards Iii, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Less than six months into his second term as president, Donald Trump has initiated or proposed more than 150 actions that experts say are detrimental to the environment, which range from cancelling climate grant programs to loosening regulations that govern air and water quality.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
-
Lights without these certifications may generate harmful byproducts, Taylor notes.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
12 June 2025
-
McFarland is facing charges of solicitation of a minor, transmission of harmful material to a minor and violation of probation.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
Adjective
-
More than 50 million people from Mississippi to western New York are under a slight risk Monday of receiving damaging wind, large-sized hail, flash flooding and a few tornadoes.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
9 June 2025
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Similarly, the recent court decisions do not change our view that the most economically damaging tariff possibilities have become less likely.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
The consequences are both deeply personal and widely systemic: Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, experience adverse drug reactions, and face delays in care.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Mifepristone is currently part of that program, though a wealth of research has shown that less than 0.5% of women who take it have serious adverse reactions.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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At times, the Algerian even operated as a wide forward as O’Neil grappled with a forward injury crisis and identified Ait-Nouri as his most dangerous attacking threat.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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An emergency room doctor explains why opioids are so dangerous. 2️⃣ ‘Absolute sh*tshow’: NASA scientists are in limbo after the Trump administration proposed eliminating the Goddard Institute for Space Studies.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
That cartilage injury was worse than expected, and Jiménez could miss all or most of this season rehabbing.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
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These let companies create boundaries—like firewalls—that ensure LLMs don't inject bad information or influence outputs in unintended ways.—
Sean White,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
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