Synonyms of detrimental

detrimental

adjective

ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

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

• harmful
• damaging
• adverse
• dangerous
• bad
• hazardous
• deleterious
• injurious
• poisonous
• prejudicial
• infectious
• pernicious
• hurtful
• evil
• baneful
• noxious
• ill
• mischievous
• destructive
• wicked
• hostile
• baleful
• nocuous
• unsafe
• deadly
• threatening
• risky
• lethal
• inimical
• infective
• venomous
• sinister
• unfriendly
• insidious
• ominous
• fatal
• contagious
• perilous
• menacing
• unhealthy
• unhealthful
• ruinous
• unsound
• killer
• unwholesome
• malignant
• jeopardizing
• pestilential
• pestiferous
• imperilling
• imperiling
• pestilent
• nasty
• parlous
• noisome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beneficial
• harmless
• safe
• benign
• useful
• advantageous
• innocuous
• innocent
• favorable
• good
• inoffensive
• healthy
• helpful
• propitious
• healthful
• salutary
• wholesome
• remedial
• anodyne
• curative
• salubrious
• hurtless
• sound
• secure
• palliative
• nontoxic
• nondestructive
• benignant
• nonpoisonous
• nonlethal
• noncorrosive
• noninfectious
• nonfatal
• nonpolluting
• nonvenomous

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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

Recent Examples of detrimental

On the flip side, New Delhi may try to play up claims that Dhaka is taking an accommodative approach to China or that Islamic extremists that will be detrimental to Trump administration objectives. —Tanvi Madan, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2024

The types of deception, manipulation and impersonations that can be perpetuated are frightening: • Deepfake videos of CEOs directing employees to take action or share information that could be detrimental to companies and their customers. —Perry Carpenter, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Heavy lead exposure has long been known to be detrimental to our health. —Theara Coleman, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Simply put, the AFC is stacked with talented teams, and the Chargers moving forward without Herbert for any stretch of time would be detrimental to their efforts to stay relevant in the AFC playoff race. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024