detrimental

[de-truh-men-tl]

adjective

1. causing detriment, as loss or injury; damaging; harmful.

noun

1. a detrimental person or thing.

detrimental

/ ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. harmful; injurious; prejudicial

   smoking can be detrimental to health

Other Word Forms

• detrimentally adverb
• detrimentality noun
• detrimentalness noun
• nondetrimental adjective
• nondetrimentally adverb
• predetrimental adjective
• undetrimental adjective
• undetrimentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of detrimental¹

First recorded in 1650–60; detriment + -al ¹

Example Sentences

A trade union which represents hospital doctors says whistleblowers in the trust have been subjected to "unwarranted scrutiny" and suffered a "detrimental impact on their career".

From BBC

"These studies show that within prescribed diets, consumption of mangoes are not detrimental to blood glucose and may even be beneficial,"

From BBC

Such values and policies have significant negative health, emotional, material and other detrimental outcomes.

From Salon

"We initially try to engage with the owner, but when it becomes a detrimental impact to the wider neighbourhood, then we have to take enforcement action to stop that decline."

From BBC

"There's very little in the packaging to tell you that they're not sweets and the potential for abuse and detrimental effects for young people are clearly there."

From BBC

Related Words

• adverse 
• destructive 
• disturbing 
• harmful 
• hurtful 
• inimical 
• injurious 
• negative 
• pernicious 
• prejudicial 
• unfavorable