harmful

[hahrm-fuhl]

See more synonyms for harmful on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

Origin of harmful

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

Related formsharm·ful·ly, adverbharm·ful·ness, nounqua·si-harm·ful, adjectivequa·si-harm·ful·ly, adverbun·harm·ful, adjectiveun·harm·ful·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

hurtful, detrimental, damaging, deleterious.

Antonyms

beneficial.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for harmful

Contemporary Examples

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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples

Corporal punishment of schoolboys is only useless and harmful brutality.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
These are the persons who do the most harm in society, and introduce into it the most harmful taints.
The Sexual Question
August Forel
Dirt, in the ordinary sense of the word, is not harmful to a sound skin.
The Meaning of Evolution
Samuel Christian Schmucker
What other wild animals or harmful insects have you on this planet?
Astounding Stories of Super-Science April 1930
Various
Usually we think of explosions as harmful, and they often are, of course.
Common Science
Carleton W. Washburne

British Dictionary definitions for harmful

harmful

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

adj.

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

harmful

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}harmful

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for harmful

Contemporary Examples

So why are we continually inundated with images and hate speech perpetuating this harmful lie?

It will likely be harmful to the reputations of both the president and vice president.

Another act, however, may be considered immoral not because it is harmful but because it evinces disloyalty.

From a pediatric ICU in Melbourne, Australia, to an elevator in Brooklyn, we see just how harmful refusing to vaccinate can be.

Studies revealed that exposure to harmful UV rays could cause wrinkles and other signs of aging, as well as skin cancer.

Historical Examples

Corporal punishment of schoolboys is only useless and harmful brutality.

These are the persons who do the most harm in society, and introduce into it the most harmful taints.

Dirt, in the ordinary sense of the word, is not harmful to a sound skin.

What other wild animals or harmful insects have you on this planet?

Usually we think of explosions as harmful, and they often are, of course.

harmful

Word Origin and History for harmful

adj.

Origin of harmful