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detrimental effects
devastating effects
damaging effects
disastrous effects
negative effects
destructive effects
detrimental behavior
harmful behavior
problematic behavior
undesirable behavior
toxic behavior
negative behavior
detrimental substances
dangerous substances
bad substances
terrible substances
harmful substances
troublesome substances
detrimental aspects
adverse aspects
unfavorable aspects
unfortunate aspects
horrible aspects
unpleasant aspects
a detrimental disturbance
a disruptive disturbance
a distressing disturbance
an undesirable disturbance
an adverse disturbance
a considerable disturbance

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of detrimental are baneful, deleterious, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

When would baneful be a good substitute for detrimental?

While the synonyms baneful and detrimental are close in meaning, baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

Where would deleterious be a reasonable alternative to detrimental?

The meanings of deleterious and detrimental largely overlap; however, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When can noxious be used instead of detrimental?

The synonyms noxious and detrimental are sometimes interchangeable, but noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

When could pernicious be used to replace detrimental?

While in some cases nearly identical to detrimental, pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

Examples 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 Studies conducted in other armed conflicts have shown that the stress and disruption caused by war can have a detrimental effect on pregnancy. Lili Rutai, The Dial, 7 Jan. 2025 But someone must explain to him that his conduct is detrimental to the team and not becoming of a team captain. Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025 Additionally, as illuminated by Seth Rogen dunking on the weird camera angles to much laughter, why agree to present if the overall production itself is detrimental to the jokes? Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025 Freezing rain expected from eastern Kansas to the Ozarks Dangerous sleet and freezing rain, particularly detrimental to power lines, also is anticipated to start Saturday from eastern Kansas to Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and much of Kentucky and West Virginia. CBS News, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for detrimental 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
  • In an October 2022 article in the Montreal Gazette, Bryn Austin, a professor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted how BMI can lead to harmful outcomes.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
  • Market intervention is always and everywhere harmful simply because markets are people.
    John Tamny, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Mother Nature exploded in Los Angeles this month with the most damaging wildfires in the city’s, and likely the nation’s, history.
    Carmen Balber, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The two most damaging active blazes – the Palisades Fire, the most destructive in the city's history, and the Eaton Fire – were 19% and 45% contained, respectively, according to Cal Fire's latest updates Wednesday.
    Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Some animals experienced adverse effects after consuming 150-300 milligrams (mg) of sulforaphane per kilogram (kg) of body weight.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD, Health, 11 Jan. 2025
  • The recall classification for the nuggets is Class 2, meaning that the products contain something that could cause temporary adverse health consequences to people who are exposed to it.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service warned that the winds could regain significant strength by Monday, with Tuesday predicted as the most dangerous day.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
  • These wild lands accumulate brush, and that brush is incredibly dangerous.
    Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • That wasn't as bad as forecast, especially in areas south of the city, where temperatures rose enough to prevent icing.
    CBS News, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2025
  • Some of them haven't been that bad, and some of them have been egregious.
    Mike Miller, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near detrimental

Cite this Entry

“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on detrimental

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