detrimental

[de-truh-men-tl]

adjective

1. causing detriment, as loss or injury; damaging; harmful.

noun

1. a detrimental person or thing.

detrimental

/ ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. harmful; injurious; prejudicial

   smoking can be detrimental to health

Other Word Forms

• detrimentality noun
• detrimentalness noun
• detrimentally adverb
• nondetrimental adjective
• nondetrimentally adverb
• predetrimental adjective
• undetrimental adjective
• undetrimentally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of detrimental¹

First recorded in 1650–60; detriment + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The group said it would explore new recording and composition concepts with Stability AI, liaising closely with artists to ensure the new tools are beneficial and not detrimental to their work.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This will inhibit the growth potential for AI stocks and be detrimental to the valuations the markets attach to them, the firm says.

Read more on MarketWatch

They also found that when dissipation surpasses a critical level, charging power experiences a brief but significant boost, overturning the long-held assumption that energy loss is always detrimental.

Read more on Science Daily

The California population has since grown to 6,900 birds, which are classified as a “restricted and detrimental species unlawful to import, transport or possess.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We cannot begin to seek suitable and sustainable alternatives until we understand how deep that belief runs and how detrimental its consequences are.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• adverse 
• destructive 
• disturbing 
• harmful 
• hurtful 
• inimical 
• injurious 
• negative 
• pernicious 
• prejudicial 
• unfavorable