First Known Use: 1590
Dictionary
1detrimental
adjective det·ri·men·tal \ˌde-trə-ˈmen-təl\
: causing damage or injury
Full Definition of DETRIMENTAL
— det·ri·men·tal·ly \-təl-ē\ adverb
See detrimental defined for English-language learners
See detrimental defined for kids
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Examples of DETRIMENTAL
- In context, the word “corruption” summarized the opinion (set forth in some of the books mentioned in the review) that, as a general matter, the growing financial dependence of the medical profession on the pharmaceutical industry is profoundly detrimental to sound public, medical, and scientific policy. —New York Review of Books, 12 Feb. 2009
- Healthy people can harbor Klebsiella to no detrimental effect; those with debilitating conditions, like liver disease or severe diabetes, or those recovering from major surgery, are most likely to fall ill. —Jerome Groopman, New Yorker, 11 & 18 Aug. 2008
- Unfortunately, tourism, along with dynamite fishing and poaching, has proved detrimental to the park's coral reefs, mangrove complexes, coastal wetlands and marine species. —Nature Conservancy Landmarks, Fall 2003
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Origin of DETRIMENTAL
(see detriment)
Related to DETRIMENTAL
Synonym Discussion of DETRIMENTAL
pernicious, baneful, noxious, deleterious, detrimental mean exceedingly harmful. pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining <the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society>. baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying <the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity>. noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind <noxious chemical fumes>. deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect <a diet found to have deleterious effects>. detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified <the detrimental effects of excessive drinking>.
Rhymes with DETRIMENTAL
accidental, adjustmental, apartmental, biparental, compartmental, complemental, condimental, continental, departmental, documental, excremental, elemental, firmamental, fundamental, governmental, grandparental, incidental, incremental, instrumental, managemental, monumental, nonjudgmental, occidental, oriental, ornamental, regimental, rudimental, sacramental, sentimental, supplemental, temperamental, transcendental
2detrimental
noun det·ri·men·tal \ˌde-trə-ˈmen-təl\
Definition of DETRIMENTAL
: an undesirable or harmful person or thing
Origin of DETRIMENTAL
(see 1detrimental)
First Known Use: 1831
Rhymes with DETRIMENTAL
DETRIMENTAL Defined for Kids
detrimental
adjective det·ri·men·tal \ˌde-trə-ˈmen-təl\
Definition of DETRIMENTAL for Kids
: causing damage or injury <The detrimental effects of smoking are well known.>
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