injurious
Americanadjective
-
harmful, hurtful, or detrimental, as in effect.
injurious eating habits.
- Synonyms:
- ruinous, destructive, baneful, pernicious, deleterious, damaging
- Antonyms:
- beneficial
-
doing or involving injury or wrong, as to another.
injurious behavior.
- Synonyms:
- inequitable, prejudicial, wrongful, unjust
-
insulting; abusive; defamatory; offensive.
an injurious statement.
- Synonyms:
- libelous, slanderous, derogatory
- Antonyms:
- complimentary
adjective
-
causing damage or harm; deleterious; hurtful
-
abusive, slanderous, or libellous
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of injurious
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin injūrius or injūriōsus. See injury, -ous
Explanation
Injurious things should be avoided. They cause pain, harm, and — yes — injuries. Handle with care! If you know what an injury is, you have a head start on learning injurious. Anything injurious is dangerous. At a construction site, almost anything could be injurious, if you don't know what you're doing (or even if you do). Falling off a ladder could be very injurious. Even crossing the street can have injurious effects if you're hit by a car. If this word turns up in your diary a dozen times, you're probably in the hospital.
Vocabulary lists containing injurious
Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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!
Emma
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!
"The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" (Excerpt 3)
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.
No. 2, the products themselves were injurious to consumers as well.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026
Aurinia and its U.S. subsidiary brought the suit against Tidmarsh, alleging defamation and injurious falsehood, and seeking damages for its losses, plus punitive damages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025
Instagram influencer and celebrity popularly known as Orry commented that caramel popcorn was injurious to "financial health".
From BBC ● Dec. 30, 2024
Though he could not “conclude with certainty that fluoridated water is injurious to public health,” Chen wrote, he still determined that it posed an “unreasonable risk” of harm.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2024
It is most difficult always to remember that the increase of every living being is constantly being checked by unperceived injurious agencies....
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
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.
