as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm
DDT has been proven to be extremely harmful to the environment
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harmful
During the press conference, speakers shared harmful, false information about autism, acetaminophen, and vaccines.
—
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Kennedy acknowledged that there is no practical alternative to taking Tylenol during pregnancy because other pain relievers have been proven harmful.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
Macrophages, immune cells that live in our tissues, are responsible for engulfing and digesting bacteria, dead and damaged cells, and harmful invaders like cancer cells.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025
In winter, however, these treatments are not effective and can even be harmful to fish.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Kennedy acknowledged that there is no practical alternative to taking Tylenol during pregnancy because other pain relievers have been proven harmful.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
Macrophages, immune cells that live in our tissues, are responsible for engulfing and digesting bacteria, dead and damaged cells, and harmful invaders like cancer cells.
—New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2025
In winter, however, these treatments are not effective and can even be harmful to fish.
—Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
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But the project — and two more down the pike — may also prove detrimental to decades of planning by Sutter County, adding hurdles while restricting the scope of Sutter Pointe, a decades-long housing plan just north of the Sacramento County line.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
23 Sep. 2025
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Maternal Control Plays a Big Part Most people can agree that rules and boundaries are essential during adolescence, but this research shows that going too far can be detrimental.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Speaking to reporters for the first time since the opener, Prince on Friday took responsibility for the late substitutions that contributed to two damaging delay of game penalties late in the Week 2 loss against the Patriots.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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In just a matter of hours, damaging winds and record-breaking flooding started to devastate many areas, especially the higher terrains of the southeastern Appalachians.—
Sam Gillette,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Google is now forcing AI summaries at the top of web searches, which reduce traffic to websites and often provide dangerous misinformation.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
22 Sep. 2025
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The oversimplification of a complex developmental difference that exists on a spectrum of many different abilities and experiences is dehumanizing at best and dangerous at its worst, autism experts, advocacy groups and members of the community told USA TODAY.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Drinking it less often, enjoying it with meals or rinsing your mouth out with water after drinking may lessen such adverse effects.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Sep. 2025
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And no serious adverse events were reported.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But what if cold plunges are actually bad for women?—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
22 Sep. 2025
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The alternative — nothing — would certainly be worse.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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