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 The actor has gone on to star in series like Fellow Travelers, a historical series set in the world of politics in the 1950s, which explores the deleterious psychic effect that being forced to live in the closet can have on LGBTQ people. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 The government also claimed at various points that trans service members would have a deleterious effect on unit cohesion, but provided no evidence and did not respond to contradicting statements entered into the record by former military officials. Samantha Riedel, Them, 20 Mar. 2025 This helps ensure that customer trust isn’t eroded by the deleterious impact of misinformation disseminated by illegitimate word of mouth. Branden Abushanab, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 And is definitely more powerful than a lecture about the deleterious effects of the 30-year mortgage on public policy and economics. Roger Valdez, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deleterious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deleterious
Adjective
  • Confusing a congressional edict to end segregation with DEI policies that have no genesis in the Black Civil Rights movement to end Jim Crow is historically ignorant, disrespectful, and harmful to the urgent need to focus on resolving continuing racial inequalities in public education.
    Raymond Pierce, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • For every person who happily sets 4:00 a.m. alarms on race morning, there’s another convinced the sport is too hard, too boring, or a waste of time, if not outright harmful.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Archer: Not having a rink in L.A. has been really detrimental to the skating community.
    Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Furthermore, the study highlights cultural contingencies, indicating that the detrimental effects of workplace aggression are amplified in cultures characterized by high individualism and masculinity.
    Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In the study, the researchers measured patients’ impulse control behavior disorders, excessive daytime sleepiness, blood pressure changes and weight changes, and found that the adverse effects linked to tavapadon were no different from those who received a placebo.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • So far, Lilly said the adverse effects of its new pill are consistent with GLP-1s, a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes.
    Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • More studies will have to determine just how damaging microplastics truly are to fertility.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But the uncertainty bred by the trade war is just as damaging to businesses’ bottom lines as consumers pull back their spending.
    Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Prioritising one competition in favour of another is a dangerous game to play in any case when the stakes are so high.
    Mark Critchley, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The company highlights one type of attack that is now targeting users and which is especially dangerous.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Deleterious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deleterious. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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