as in offensiveness
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Recent Examples of harmfulness
While pollinators die in large numbers due to exposure to neonicotinoids, those trying to save bees are forced to prove the harmfulness of the substances used in pesticides, while industry pushes back.
—
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmfulness
Noun
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Villainy, at the elite level, will not content itself with offensiveness alone; the all-timers, the boundary-pushers, bring fresh nuance to their antics.—
Megan Garber,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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The push came amid concerns about the offensiveness of the name.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Progressive politicians may talk tough about the evil of big money and endorse reforms during their campaigns, but once in office, they are often too invested in the system that won them their seat.—
Alisa Kaplan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Most Berliners — and even Buruma's own father — did their jobs, took their pleasures and preferred not to think about the evils under their noses.—
John Powers,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Durov was arrested in France in 2024 and charged with enabling various forms of criminality on his app.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
22 Mar. 2026
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Protesters held banners decrying criminality and calling for law and order.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
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This lawless crew shares dramaturgical DNA with the vice figures from medieval morality plays, personifications of sinfulness who would confide their schemes to the audience and make theatergoers their co-conspirators in a riveting game that obviously left its mark on a young Shakespeare.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Rather, a lengthy process can be initiated to remove a member from office for gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, or other misconduct, the Ohio School Board Association stated.—
Grace Tucker,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Mar. 2026
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Courteney Cox‘s dogged reporter/stand-in for media immorality Gale Weathers will naturally be on the scene once again, as well a host of recurring characters, fan favorites, and old faces from all six of the previous entries.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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An opinion offered offhand suggests a secret wickedness that must be exorcised.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2026
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Pearl revels in wickedness, presenting a literary world in which a successful writer’s haughtiness is both encouraged and rewarded.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
15 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmfulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmfulness. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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