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
Residents east of Longview, Texas, faced potentially harmful levels of air pollution in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a live map from AirNow showed.
—
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
These are antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage caused by harmful compounds called free radicals.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Any item that may be deemed potentially harmful.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
This process helps kill harmful bacteria.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
These are antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage caused by harmful compounds called free radicals.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 4 Nov. 2025
Any item that may be deemed potentially harmful.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
This process helps kill harmful bacteria.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
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So, a pause from the action after that win didn’t seem too detrimental at the time.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
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These politically and financially motivated actions will have a detrimental impact on public health for our consumers in this state.—
Will McDuffie,
ABC News,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Seven lawsuits filed this week in California allege that ordinary users seeking school help, spiritual reassurance, or simple conversation were instead drawn into psychologically damaging exchanges that ultimately preceded several suicides.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Vietnam is preparing for damaging winds, flooding, heavy rain and storm surges in its central provinces including Danang, Quang Ngai and Dak Lak.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Chicago is facing a dangerous lake-effect snow event early Monday morning.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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Two decades ago, when the NFL's base offense consisted of two backs with a blocking tight end and only two wide receivers, an elite cornerback could often take away half of the dangerous receiving options.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Because obesity will drive higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar, more adverse cholesterol levels—all sorts of things—that sort of becomes a perfect storm.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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These weather conditions will result in elevated fire potential and a threat of adverse fire behavior.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Iran is facing its worst drought in decades, raising fears of evacuations in Tehran while threatening the regime’s stability and nuclear ambitions, according to a leading environmental expert.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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Keeping bad things out of my body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.
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