detrimental
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
- detrimentality noun
- detrimentally adverb
- detrimentalness noun
- nondetrimental adjective
- nondetrimentally adverb
- predetrimental adjective
- undetrimental adjective
- undetrimentally adverb
Etymology
Origin of detrimental
Explanation
Detrimental is a formal way of saying "harmful." Anything detrimental hurts, hinders, or puts a damper on something. Detrimental things do damage. Have you ever heard "Smoking may be detrimental to your health" and wondered what it meant? It means that smoking is bad for your health: it's going to harm you in a bunch of ways. Detrimental is a more official, formal way of talking about things that do harm. A dog who likes digging holes can be detrimental to a garden. If you're writing a paper and want to pick an alternative to harmful that sounds more formal, detrimental is a great choice.
Vocabulary lists containing detrimental
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: January 27 - February 2, 2018
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The March jobs data do not capture the detrimental ways in which the conflict in Iran will continue to affect the construction industry,” said Anirban Basu, chief economist at ABC.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
“We’re seeing the impacts of dust events and proximity to the sea as being detrimental to children’s lung development.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
“This, of course, could be detrimental, especially if applied in the wrong context.”
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
Attempting to time market movements is difficult and detrimental; missing the best 10 days of a rally can reduce returns by a quarter.
From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026
Have we fallen into a mesmerized state that makes us accept as inevitable that which is inferior or detrimental, as though having lost the will or the vision to demand that which is good?
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
