deleterious
[ del-i-teer-ee-uhs ]
/ ˌdɛl ɪˈtɪər i əs /
adjective
injurious to health: deleterious gases.
harmful; injurious: deleterious influences.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
Origin of deleterious
1635–45; < Greek dēlētḗrios destructive, adj. derivative of dēlētḗr destroyer, equivalent to dēlē- variant stem of dēleîsthai to hurt, injure + -tēr agent suffix + -ios adj. suffix; see -ious
SYNONYMS FOR deleterious
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for deleterious
British Dictionary definitions for deleterious
deleterious
/ (ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs) /
adjective
harmful; injurious; hurtful
Derived Formsdeleteriously, adverbdeleteriousness, noun
Word Origin for deleterious
C17: from New Latin dēlētērius, from Greek dēlētērios injurious, destructive, from dēleisthai to hurt
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for deleterious
deleterious
1640s, from Medieval Latin deleterius, from Greek deleterios "noxious," from deleter "destroyer," from deleisthai "to hurt, injure." Related: Deleteriously; deleteriousness.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for deleterious
deleterious
[ dĕl′ĭ-tîr′ē-əs ]
adj.
Having a harmful effect; injurious.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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