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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
  • Being a tenant may limit priority over game scheduling too, which could be detrimental for potential media rights negotiations.
    — Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The wet-dry cycle that works well for other houseplants is detrimental to the Venus flytrap.
    — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Adjective
  • The Ukraine international forward last played a competitive match for Chelsea in November 2024, and has been suspended under anti-doping rules after an adverse finding in a urine sample.
    — Cerys Jones, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, she was given a spate of different medications over a matter of months to treat her symptoms or the adverse reactions to some of the medications.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of adverse
Adjective
  • Unresolved issues run the gamut, from antitrust protections to chip export controls to whether existing consumer laws are sufficient to protect people from harmful AI.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • For example, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed multiple AI bills into law, including Adam's Law, which requires AI chatbot makers to protect minors from harmful interactions.
    — Lora Kolodny,Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • His colorful mermaid costume catches the eyes of Carmela’s gossipy friends, as well as negative attention from other boys.
    — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • New polling by the Special Competitive Studies Project and Gallup finds that Americans are overwhelmingly negative on the economic impacts of AI.
    — Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of negative
Adjective
  • Analysts who have followed Saab’s relationship with Maduro have said his testimony could be particularly damaging if prosecutors call him as a witness at Maduro’s narcoterrorism trial in New York.
    — Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The storms carry a limited damaging wind risk of up to 60 mph, officials said.
    — Deanese Williams-Harris, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of damaging
Adjective
  • The Raiders caught Johnson in unfavorable mismatches a few times and exploited it.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Good opportunities should create attractive potential upside without placing the organization in a position where one unfavorable outcome becomes catastrophic.
    — Brian Ferdinand, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Adjective
  • The most dangerous place on the field in the third quarter was your own 38 yard line!
    — Stewart Mandel, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • ShotSpotter offers targeted detection of a dangerous event versus technology like Flock's indiscriminate collection of innocent people's movements.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • Worse, her estranged sister April (Naomi Watts), a drama queen, and hostile mother, Diane (Dianne Wiest), fly in from their Michigan hair salon to add to Sandra’s suffering.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • European authorities have linked Moscow to a rising number of drone incursions, sabotage incidents, cyberattacks, and other hostile acts across the continent in recent months.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 16 Sep. 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 19 Sep. 2026.

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