as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm
DDT has been proven to be extremely harmful to the environment
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Recent Examples of harmful
Fertilizing during extreme heat can be harmful for grasses.
—
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
The trees store carbon from the atmosphere and absorb nutrients that might otherwise lead to harmful algal blooms in the water.
—Amber X. Chen, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
The question here is not whether marijuana use is harmful.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 27 July 2025
But too much of one specific type of algae can be toxic, causing a harmful algal bloom, also sometimes known as a red tide.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2025
The trees store carbon from the atmosphere and absorb nutrients that might otherwise lead to harmful algal blooms in the water.
—Amber X. Chen, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2025
The question here is not whether marijuana use is harmful.
—Thomas Elias, Mercury News, 27 July 2025
But too much of one specific type of algae can be toxic, causing a harmful algal bloom, also sometimes known as a red tide.
—Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
-
The platform was recently accused by several state attorneys general of implementing addictive features across its family of apps that have detrimental effects on children’s mental health.—
Zach Vallese,
CNBC,
23 July 2025
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Water is a systemic need for plants of all types; however, too much water, whether supplied by rain or irrigation, is detrimental.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
Adjective
-
Expose how these programs and their curriculum are damaging and not aligned with state workforce demands.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
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Despite the initial euphoria on European stock markets, strategists at UBS suggest the deal is likely to be damaging in the long run.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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Here's what each means, according to the NWS: Heat advisory: A heat advisory is the lowest level and is issued for dangerous heat conditions that are not expected to reach the criteria for a more serious alert.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
24 July 2025
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More dangerous heat waves The Great Lakes region warmed substantially faster in the six years since the last assessment than it did in decades prior, the report shows.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The team identified three distinct behavioral phenotypes as a result of their experiments, representing the varying sensitivity of people to the adverse consequences (punishment) of their actions.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 July 2025
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Without such data, the systems can serve adverse, false results or fail to understand the context of a user’s query, among other issues.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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So the point is, if things feel especially bad, this is why.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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If the individual begins throwing up, or if symptoms get worse or last for over an hour, then call 911.—
Chad Murphy,
The Enquirer,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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