as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
detrimental effects
detrimental behavior
detrimental substances
detrimental aspects
a detrimental disturbance
a disruptive disturbance
a distressing disturbance
an undesirable disturbance
an adverse disturbance
a considerable disturbance
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 detrimental
But many did not expect the cuts to be so deep—or the implications of the layoffs to be so potentially detrimental to the health and wellbeing of American families.
—
Alana Semuels, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
My passion for saving my generation from the detrimental effects of TikTok had suddenly morphed into something even bigger, a mission — by forces greater than me — to preserve childhood itself against the insidiously destructive forces of smartphone dependency.
—Juliet Weisfogel, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Losing out on the top four would be hugely detrimental to Juve’s bottom line come the end of the season.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Biggs promises, particularly to the communities that would potentially be affected, that the county would not approve anything detrimental.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Alana Semuels, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
My passion for saving my generation from the detrimental effects of TikTok had suddenly morphed into something even bigger, a mission — by forces greater than me — to preserve childhood itself against the insidiously destructive forces of smartphone dependency.
—Juliet Weisfogel, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2025
Losing out on the top four would be hugely detrimental to Juve’s bottom line come the end of the season.
—Emmet Gates, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Biggs promises, particularly to the communities that would potentially be affected, that the county would not approve anything detrimental.
—Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
-
Make sure to not add dyes or sweeteners, which can be harmful to hummingbirds.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Our biochemical response to that type of stress is to release cortisol which eventually leads to the harmful downstream effects on our bodies, such as high blood pressure.—
Andrea Kane,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Tuesday’s storms could be strong to severe with the main threats being large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes, according to the NWS.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2025
-
More than 400,000 homes and businesses in five states were without power Monday as severe weather blasted a corridor from Texas to Michigan with damaging winds, hail and possible tornadoes.—
John Bacon,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The takeover offer will be subject to customary closing conditions including market and business-related material, adverse change clauses and regulatory approval.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
-
Marijuana can have broad adverse physical and mental health effects.—
Omer Awan,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That means the garden isn't dangerous for Cummings' elderly father, who is allergic to bees.—
Martha Ann Overland,
NPR,
6 Apr. 2025
-
Many of the surf zone fatalities occur when distant hurricanes send swells to shore that create dangerous conditions at the coast, such as strong surf and rip currents, the hurricane center stated.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Jack: This is just a bad team that has occasionally had good days.—
The View from the Lane,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
-
What happened was my bad behavior and my angst brought the energy finally.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share