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
Erdozain writes with a poet’s concision but a maximalist’s zeal, leaving no room in his historical account for any doubt that American exceptionalism has been a singularly detrimental force.
—
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
The longer this pattern continues, the more likely that the detrimental effects can spread beyond cognitive health.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 8 June 2026
Reduce Nematodes While nematodes can help combat grubs, too many of them can be detrimental.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
While this research focused on the psychological effects of childhood experiences, using screens is also physically detrimental, Licinio said.
—CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
The longer this pattern continues, the more likely that the detrimental effects can spread beyond cognitive health.
—Stephanie Anderson Witmer, Health, 8 June 2026
Reduce Nematodes While nematodes can help combat grubs, too many of them can be detrimental.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
While this research focused on the psychological effects of childhood experiences, using screens is also physically detrimental, Licinio said.
—CNN Money, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
-
Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
Developing a negative self-view as a result of these harmful experiences during your formative years is not uncommon.—
Christina Balderrama-Durbin,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
There is still time for boards to shape how AI is adopted before damaging practices become normalized.—
Samantha Gloede,
Fortune,
19 June 2026
-
Now, researchers report that such a quake could be more widespread and damaging than previously thought.—
Kasha Patel,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
If an underwriting decision goes against you, ask for the reason; New York's rule, and others like it, were written partly to force insurers to explain adverse decisions rather than shrug at them.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
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These conditions can increase your vulnerability to adverse effects from poor air quality.—
Southern California Weather Report,
Daily News,
20 June 2026
Adjective
-
Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.—
Faye Chiu,
CNN Money,
23 June 2026
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Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Are those still your worst fears?—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
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While a higher tracker error is not bad in and of itself, most investors become uncomfortable when their portfolio acts so differently from the index.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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