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
The court again will have gone against the predominant view of medical experts in a way detrimental to the LGBTQ+ community, potentially adding to criticism of the Supreme Court as being too political.
—
Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Overwatering mums is just as detrimental as underwatering.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Trump warned that major changes could occur — which could be detrimental to Democrats — if the government runs out of funding.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
These new tariffs could prove detrimental to the healthcare sector, where high costs and insurance plans plans can already limit what drugs American patients can get their hands on.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Timothy R. Holbrook, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2025
Overwatering mums is just as detrimental as underwatering.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
Trump warned that major changes could occur — which could be detrimental to Democrats — if the government runs out of funding.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
These new tariffs could prove detrimental to the healthcare sector, where high costs and insurance plans plans can already limit what drugs American patients can get their hands on.
—Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
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While traditional failures to moderate third-party posts are usually protected, design choices, like building chatbots that produce harmful content, could expose companies to liability.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
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That means millions of young people remain vulnerable to a practice the nation’s leading experts have long rejected as both harmful and scientifically baseless.—
Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez,
Time,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While many consider the mammal a nuisance for raiding garbage cans and damaging property, raccoons can also carry diseases, and they probably shouldn't be kept as housepets.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Additional details about the texts could also be more damaging to Robinson's defense, Lazaro said.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Concerns or reports of adverse effects can be directed to the FDA's Human Foods Program at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366).—
Matt Cannon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Such issues include severe weather impacts, adverse road conditions and trash buildups that pose a threat to human and/or wildlife health.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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So quick, so dangerous in the final third, and surely so motivated to revive his career in a World Cup year.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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But even hanging around the base camp can be dangerous, as hundreds of holiday makers were trapped when the area was hit in an unexpected blizzard over the weekend.—
Kaijing Xiao,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The game didn’t start bad for the Giants.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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Apparently, Grier forgot his own words, because the lines that the Dolphins have built are collectively their worst this decade, something evident in a crushing 27-24 loss to Carolina, a game in which Miami blew a 17-0 lead.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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