prejudicial

adjective

ˌpre-jə-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce prejudicial (audio)
Definition of prejudicialnext
1
as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm pretrial publicity that may be extremely prejudicial to a defendant's right to a fair trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests the defense will try to counterbalance the mass of prejudicial evidence presented by the prosecution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 prejudicial Sooknanan also became the subject of a bar complaint filed last week by the watchdog group Democracy Restored, which accused the judge of dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice during her tenure as a senior DOJ official. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 7 July 2026 In addition, the judge was right to exclude from evidence Motsinger’s 1970s-era LSD and marijuana use as irrelevant, prejudicial and improper character evidence, the Motsinger attorneys further state. — City News Service, Daily News, 31 May 2026 Musk’s lawyers argued that such sentiments were blatantly prejudicial. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 In 2022, however, the Georgia Supreme Court tossed out the murder verdict (PDF), saying that prosecutors had introduced needlessly inflammatory and prejudicial material about Harris’ personal life at his trial. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prejudicial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prejudicial
  1. detrimental
  2. adverse
  3. harmful
  4. negative
  5. damaging
  6. unfavorable
  7. dangerous
  8. hostile
Adjective
  • Early detection is also instrumental to addressing chronic absenteeism, classroom misconduct and student disconnectedness detrimental to any learning environment.
    — Vanessa Andersen, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Brown was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team in 1997 and then was cut.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Adjective
  • Gastrointestinal problems, such as nausea, were the most common adverse events, generally experienced as doses were increased.
    — Mike McRae October 09, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The team’s findings, published last week in Nature Communications, reveal that, when given such a drug, rodents suffer adverse reactions similar to the paranoia human cannabis users feel.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of adverse
Adjective
  • Local government and outside groups have long strived to ban the popular tourist attraction that critics argue is harmful to horses’ well-being.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Waters are becoming cloudier overall, while harmful algal blooms — measured through chlorophyll a levels — are trending in the wrong direction, the report found.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • To that end, Musk’s average favorability rating — net negative 16 percentage points as of Wednesday, according to Decision Desk HQ — has additionally improved, although only slightly, since July 2025 when his favorability was at its nadir.
    — Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The beats create ample negative space for Holden to employ riskier flows, often deploying a double-time pace to burn through technically dense passages.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of negative
Adjective
  • Strong overnight thunderstorms brought heavy rain and damaging winds to the Kansas City metro, prompting a tornado warning for Clay County and leaving thousands of people without power Wednesday morning.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026
  • In a culture marked by high-power distance, that’s a particularly damaging signal.
    — Ryoji Sekido, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of damaging
Adjective
  • Echard, then 28 and a former NFL athlete, had ended his season 26 run on the popular ABC series as an unfavorable lead, to say the least.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • For example, a retiree with sufficient cash value might use it to supplement other assets rather than selling investments during an unfavorable market period.
    — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Adjective
  • When threatening phone calls begin and a dangerous fugitive surfaces in town, Jenny grows suspicious of everyone around her as the danger begins closing in.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2026
  • One of the reasons being an actor is both dangerous and a privilege is that your job is to think about all the different roads your life could take, and all the people that live inside you, and all your potential.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • That night, Lee goes to Ginger’s house to tell her what happened — about his hostile showdown with the rupidoop, about Brawny Dude With the Butter Candies checking out Lee’s van in the Boontill parking lot.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The trip to Leeds is another daunting assignment for United in what is usually a hostile atmosphere.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostile

Browse Nearby Words

prejudices
prejudicial
prejudicing
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Cite this Entry

“Prejudicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prejudicial. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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