deleterious

American  

[del-i-teer-ee-uhs] / ˌdɛl ɪˈtɪər i əs /

adjective

1. injurious to health.

   deleterious gases.

2. harmful; injurious.

   deleterious influences.

   Synonyms:

   noxious, destructive, hurtful, pernicious

   Antonyms:

   beneficial

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deleterious British  

/ ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs /

adjective

1. harmful; injurious; hurtful

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Other Word Forms

• deleteriously adverb
• deleteriousness noun
• nondeleterious adjective
• nondeleteriously adverb
• nondeleteriousness noun
• undeleterious adjective
• undeleteriously adverb
• undeleteriousness noun

Etymology

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; -ious

Example Sentences

If one deteriorates, the other is almost certain to do so as well, with deleterious consequences.

From Barron's

If one deteriorates, the other is almost certain to do so as well, with deleterious consequences.

From Barron's

"Those beneficial mutations in the old environment might become deleterious in the new environment."

From Science Daily

But he demonstrated Wednesday that his leadership remains intact—and strong enough to prevent tension in the Fed’s dual mandate from devolving into deleterious tension within the committee.

From Barron's

Directors, producers and owners of theater chains fear that Netflix’s WBD takeover can only be further deleterious to the box office ecosystem.

From Salon