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

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 detrimental Without that maturity, there is a high risk of many of your AI outputs being ineffective or even detrimental. Ryan Austin, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025 To be clear, it's been extremely detrimental to the Yankees, who have to be flabbergasted at his immediate fall-off upon arrival. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025 Your favorite diet soda could have a detrimental effect on your cognitive health, a new study suggests. Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2025 The fluctuations in temperature can be detrimental to the shelf life of products. Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for detrimental
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detrimental
Adjective
  • This vaporized the harmful metals in the red mud, and left behind a purified compound rich in aluminum.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2025
  • No one has gotten sick, but lead can be harmful to young children’s development.
    DeVonne Goode, Parents, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The primary hazard with the upcoming weather will be lightning — the storms are not expected to bring damaging winds, large hail or flooding, Sheppard said.
    Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • This makes the AirLight Pro more efficient (less heat is lost to the air), less damaging (not as much heat is needed to dry your hair), and seriously speedy.
    Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Children and those who are breastfeeding or of child-bearing age may be at higher risk for potential adverse effects.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
  • These interactions can alter the effectiveness of either product or other medications taken concurrently and/or increase the incidence of adverse effects.
    Pearl Pugh, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Demonizing or attempting to eliminate those who think differently – literally or symbolically – has become a dangerous norm, which is all too evident in the wake of the Kirk shooting.
    Arash Javanbakht, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2025
  • During volatile periods, this becomes especially dangerous because customer loyalty becomes more fragile and harder to rebuild.
    Talbott Roche, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But that’s actually a bad thing for a couple reasons.
    Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But worse than the poverty was the verbal and physical abuse from his father.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Detrimental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detrimental. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on detrimental

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!