HARMFULNESS Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

harmfulness

noun

Definition of harmfulness

as in offensiveness

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of harmfulness While pollinators die in large numbers due to exposure to neonicotinoids, those trying to save bees are forced to prove the harmfulness of the substances used in pesticides, while industry pushes back. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmfulness

Noun

But Hokit’s offensiveness in the shadow of the president’s home — with the Washington Monument visible to the south — was one indication that anything and everything was inbounds.

— Oskar Garcia, New York Times, 15 June 2026
During this period, Dhillon moved away from the Review’s gleeful offensiveness toward positions suggesting a more moderate conservatism.

— Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026

Definition of offensiveness

Noun

In my ideal world there would be dozens of essay collections by excellent writers (Choi is a poet) on culture and politics, technology and the evils of capitalism.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Early in the outbreak, Tedros talked about having visited the outbreak zone and being struck by the fact that many people seemed to view Ebola as a lesser of evils.

— Helen Branswell, STAT, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of evil

Noun

Europol does not keep statistics on nihilistic violent extremism because definitions of it differ and acts can fall into the category of ordinary criminality as well as terrorism.

— Lorne Cook, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
What about how police agencies understand criminality and risk can only be put on the table and frankly stated behind closed doors?

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of criminality

Noun

But soon after, in Genesis 18, God tells Abraham of plans to investigate reports of sinfulness in Sodom and Gomorrah.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.

— Sandra Dallas, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026

Definition of sinfulness

Noun

Since the middle of the twentieth century, societies around the globe have undergone a collective revolution in standards and attitudes towards obscenity and immorality.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
Independents said the worst thing about Republicans was their loyalty to Trump (10%), perceptions of corruption and self-enrichment (8%), dishonesty, hypocrisy or immorality (7%), a lack of concern for ordinary people or cruelty (6%), and ineffective and weak or unqualified leadership (5%).

— Emily Guskin, ABC News, 27 May 2026

Definition of immorality

Noun

Miller was bold, having learned of life’s wickedness at an early age.

— Air Mail, Air Mail, 25 July 2026
Max Cady should be an unsettling interruption, a man who undermines our ideas of right and wrong through his nonchalance about his own wickedness; here, the most unsettling thing about him are those teal contact lenses.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 26 June 2026

Definition of wickedness

Browse Nearby Words

harmful

harmfulness

harming

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Harmfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmfulness. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of harmfulness

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

aggrandize

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18

Popular

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes