as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment
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Recent Examples of detrimental
What’s more, inability to heal these relationships can be detrimental to physical and emotional well-being, and even longevity.
—
Richard Balkin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
That people would lean into the allure of something unabashedly detrimental feels perversely inevitable.
—Gabriella Onessimo, Allure, 23 Jan. 2026
Applying too much mulch can be detrimental to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
In some cases, soups may also contain high levels of other ingredients that, if consumed in excess, can be detrimental to one's health.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Richard Balkin, The Conversation, 26 Jan. 2026
That people would lean into the allure of something unabashedly detrimental feels perversely inevitable.
—Gabriella Onessimo, Allure, 23 Jan. 2026
Applying too much mulch can be detrimental to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026
In some cases, soups may also contain high levels of other ingredients that, if consumed in excess, can be detrimental to one's health.
—Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
-
In order to rule in her favor, jurors will have to parse the harmful actions of fellow users — including her high school bullies and adult men sending her unsolicited nudes — from design decisions made by the companies themselves.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Many of these jars contain unknown or poorly documented chemical mixtures that could be toxic to humans or harmful to the specimens themselves if disturbed.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Large hail up to quarter size and damaging winds of up to 60 mph are possible both Friday and Saturday afternoon and evenings.—
Isa Almeida,
Oklahoman,
12 Feb. 2026
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But growth stalled, due both to the pandemic and damaging revelations about Glossier’s corporate culture during the racial justice movement following the murder of George Floyd.—
Jenny B. Fine,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Kiosks should be designed to detect drug combinations or conditions with higher risks for adverse events and these high-risk scenarios should be automatically flagged for real-time clinician review or to be reviewed within 24 hours of dispensing.—
Mark A. Munger,
STAT,
13 Feb. 2026
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The sharp rise in chocolate prices owes to a cocoa shortage caused primarily by adverse weather and crop disease in West Africa, which accounts for about 70% of the world’s cocoa, some analysts told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Without reliably cold temperatures, snow is wetter and thinner, conditions are rainier — and for athletes that can be dangerous.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Luge is the most dangerous of the three sliding sports (bobsled and skeleton are the others) — ironic because athletes in that event actually have the most control.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Investigators are buried in leads The influx of tips generated in the case – further fueled by the release this week of footage captured by Guthrie’s doorbell camera – is both good and bad for law enforcement.—
Elizabeth Hartfield,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the lack of bigger tax cuts does not inherently make the grocery tax repeal bad.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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