Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of baneful are deleterious, detrimental, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

In what contexts can deleterious take the place of baneful?

While in some cases nearly identical to baneful, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When is detrimental a more appropriate choice than baneful?

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

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

Where would noxious be a reasonable alternative to baneful?

The words noxious and baneful can be used in similar contexts, but noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

When is it sensible to use pernicious instead of baneful?

Although the words pernicious and baneful have much in common, 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 baneful The baneful effects of war on public speech and freedoms in Russia have been well recorded. Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Dec. 2022 The impact these soldiers had on the South was baneful. New York Times, 14 Feb. 2022 To home in on what gives these peculiar primates their baneful bite, Fry and his colleagues collected the underarm secretions from a handful of wild slow lorises housed at a research station in Indonesia and isolated the proteins within. Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Feb. 2020 We are mired in a baneful pandemic unlike anything endured for a century, parsing our lives into 14-day increments of health and survival — or not. Peter M. Leschak, Star Tribune, 31 July 2020 This resulted in all the baneful consequences of the French Revolution, which Edmund Burke so brilliantly exposed in his Reflections on the Revolution in France. Jaithirth Rao, Quartz India, 4 Nov. 2019 Chaos convincingly ebbs and flows in this rattling film, a baneful tide lapping at some of history’s most troubled shores. Richard Lawson, HWD, 20 July 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for baneful
Adjective
  • Studies have shown that testers can harbor harmful bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of styes and other infections), E. coli, yeast, and mold.
    Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Organic farms use natural farming methods to keep the soil, water, and environment free from potentially harmful chemicals.7 Similarities Grass-fed and organic foods share a commitment to natural farming.
    Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD, Health, 24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Sitting for too long can lead to a host of adverse health effects, but taking short movement breaks throughout the day can offset these risks.
    Elizabeth Yuko, Health, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Some such adverse impacts include difficulty driving or with close-up activities like reading, writing, cooking, sewing or fixing things around the house.
    Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • According to a new study from the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa, plastics are becoming the most prevalent form of pollution in the ocean, which can be detrimental to marine species and their habitat.
    Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Losing this momentum will be very detrimental to finding the TRUTH, which is turning out to be a disaster for those involved in running our Government.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Schools districts throughout Kentucky closed on Monday, citing flooded streets, dangerous travel conditions and power outages that impacted some 15,000 homes and businesses.
    Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Hamilton said that wind shear combined with an icy runway would make dangerous conditions for a flip.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The storms are also known for their strong, damaging winds.
    Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 21 Feb. 2025
  • Storms with damaging winds and flash flooding were the main threats, but there was also the possibility of tornadoes.
    Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The state of our budget and our debt is bad for the country and bad for working families.
    Charlotte Alter, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
  • And if that wasn’t bad enough, in extremely rare circumstances, neurologic fallout from measles is delayed, showing up 7 to 10 years post-infection as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a degenerative disease that is ultimately fatal, Dr. Lovins says.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 28 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

“Baneful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/baneful. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on baneful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!