harmful

[ hahrm-fuhl ]

/ ˈhɑrm fəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR harmful ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

causing or capable of causing harm; injurious: a harmful idea; a harmful habit.

Nearby words

Origin of harmful

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hearmful. See harm, -ful

SYNONYMS FOR harmful

hurtful, detrimental, damaging, deleterious.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR harmful ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR harmful

beneficial.

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Related forms

harm·ful·ly, adverbharm·ful·ness, nounqua·si-harm·ful, adjectivequa·si-harm·ful·ly, adverb

un·harm·ful, adjectiveun·harm·ful·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for harmful

So why are we continually inundated with images and hate speech perpetuating this harmful lie?
Can We Lose the Violent Muslim Cliché?|Jay Parini|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It will likely be harmful to the reputations of both the president and vice president.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief|Jonathan Alter|October 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Another act, however, may be considered immoral not because it is harmful but because it evinces disloyalty.
It’s Official: Religion Doesn’t Make You More Moral|Elizabeth Picciuto|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
From a pediatric ICU in Melbourne, Australia, to an elevator in Brooklyn, we see just how harmful refusing to vaccinate can be.
Hey Anti-Vaxxers, Watch NOVA: Vaccines--Calling the Shots|Russell Saunders|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Studies revealed that exposure to harmful UV rays could cause wrinkles and other signs of aging, as well as skin cancer.
Is the Facekini the Future of Beachwear?|Justin Jones|August 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hence, it is often as harmful for a person to use these medicines freely as to use alcoholic liquors in any other form.
First Book in Physiology and Hygiene|J.H. Kellogg
Father will not insist on your doing anything that will be harmful.
The Tyranny of the Dark|Hamlin Garland
And it is especially their so-called tactics that are harmful to the proletariat.
Anarchism and Socialism|George Plechanoff
In the same way shade is harmful to vegetation, since the radiant energy required for growth is prevented from reaching the plant.
The Mechanism of Life|Stphane Leduc
It has all the fantastic unreality of Chinese dragons, and, therefore, can in no way be harmful.
Oscar Wilde|Leonard Cresswell Ingleby

British Dictionary definitions for harmful

harmful

/ (ˈhɑːmfʊl) /

adjective

causing or tending to cause harm; injurious

Derived Formsharmfully, adverbharmfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for harmful

harmful

adj.

mid-14c., from harm (n.) + -ful. Related: Harmfully.

harmful

adjective

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Origin of harmful

Examples from the Web for harmful

harmful

adjective

harmful