Synonym Chooser

How is the word deleterious different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of deleterious are baneful, detrimental, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When is baneful a more appropriate choice than deleterious?

The synonyms baneful and deleterious are sometimes interchangeable, but baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

When would detrimental be a good substitute for deleterious?

The words detrimental and deleterious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

When can noxious be used instead of deleterious?

The meanings of noxious and deleterious largely overlap; however, noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

Where would pernicious be a reasonable alternative to deleterious?

The words pernicious and deleterious can be used in similar contexts, but pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

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 deleterious This is in spite of the potential deleterious impacts, not just on individuals, but on the businesses themselves. Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 June 2025 His myopia was at least as deleterious to the liberation of the unconscious mind as his charisma were beneficial. Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 In his fast-paced, highly accessible book, Beiser shows how the environmental consequences of competition for these metals can be as deleterious as carbon emissions, especially when mining activities are poorly managed and regulated. Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 This resulting pollution has had deleterious effects on the area’s residents, with some pockets of the region being estimated to confer a 700-times greater cancer risk relative to the national average. Henna Hundal, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deleterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deleterious
Adjective
  • Antisocial Anger Some teenagers express their anger through harmful behaviors such as threatening others, vandalism, skipping school or using drugs.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
  • Independent testing confirms that the supplement contains the ingredients listed on the label and is free from harmful contaminants.
    Kirstyn Hill, Health, 15 July 2025
Adjective
  • The platform was recently accused by several state attorneys general of implementing addictive features across its family of apps that have detrimental effects on children’s mental health.
    Zach Vallese, CNBC, 23 July 2025
  • Water is a systemic need for plants of all types; however, too much water, whether supplied by rain or irrigation, is detrimental.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 20 July 2025
Adjective
  • The team identified three distinct behavioral phenotypes as a result of their experiments, representing the varying sensitivity of people to the adverse consequences (punishment) of their actions.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2025
  • Without such data, the systems can serve adverse, false results or fail to understand the context of a user’s query, among other issues.
    Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 22 July 2025
Adjective
  • The Baltimore area is under a flood watch, as thunderstorms and damaging winds are possible Monday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 14 July 2025
  • Stay away from windows as flying debris generated by damaging winds can be deadly.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 July 2025
Adjective
  • More dangerous heat waves The Great Lakes region warmed substantially faster in the six years since the last assessment than it did in decades prior, the report shows.
    Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • Here's what each means, according to the NWS: Heat advisory: A heat advisory is the lowest level and is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach the criteria for a more serious alert.
    Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 24 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deleterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deleterious. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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