Synonyms of detrimental

detrimental

adjective

ˌde-trə-ˈmen-tᵊl 

as in harmful

causing or capable of causing harm

there were serious concerns that the factory's waste was detrimental to the local environment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harmful
• damaging
• adverse
• dangerous
• bad
• hazardous
• deleterious
• injurious
• poisonous
• prejudicial
• infectious
• pernicious
• hurtful
• evil
• baneful
• noxious
• ill
• mischievous
• destructive
• wicked
• hostile
• baleful
• nocuous
• unsafe
• deadly
• threatening
• risky
• lethal
• inimical
• infective
• venomous
• sinister
• unfriendly
• insidious
• ominous
• fatal
• contagious
• perilous
• menacing
• unhealthy
• unhealthful
• ruinous
• unsound
• killer
• unwholesome
• malignant
• jeopardizing
• pestilential
• pestiferous
• imperilling
• imperiling
• pestilent
• nasty
• parlous
• noisome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• beneficial
• harmless
• safe
• benign
• useful
• advantageous
• innocuous
• innocent
• favorable
• good
• inoffensive
• healthy
• helpful
• propitious
• healthful
• salutary
• wholesome
• remedial
• anodyne
• curative
• salubrious
• hurtless
• sound
• secure
• palliative
• nontoxic
• nondestructive
• benignant
• nonpoisonous
• nonlethal
• noncorrosive
• noninfectious
• nonfatal
• nonpolluting
• nonvenomous

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detrimental effects

devastating effects

damaging effects

disastrous effects

negative effects

destructive effects

detrimental behavior

harmful behavior

problematic behavior

undesirable behavior

toxic behavior

negative behavior

detrimental substances

dangerous substances

bad substances

terrible substances

harmful substances

troublesome substances

detrimental aspects

adverse aspects

unfavorable aspects

unfortunate aspects

horrible aspects

unpleasant aspects

a detrimental disturbance

a disruptive disturbance

a distressing disturbance

an undesirable disturbance

an adverse disturbance

a considerable disturbance

Synonym Chooser

How is the word detrimental different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of detrimental are baneful, deleterious, noxious, and pernicious. While all these words mean "exceedingly harmful," detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified.

the detrimental effects of excessive drinking

When would baneful be a good substitute for detrimental?

While the synonyms baneful and detrimental are close in meaning, baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying.

the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity

Where would deleterious be a reasonable alternative to detrimental?

The meanings of deleterious and detrimental largely overlap; however, deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect.

a diet found to have deleterious effects

When can noxious be used instead of detrimental?

The synonyms noxious and detrimental are sometimes interchangeable, but noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind.

noxious chemical fumes

When could pernicious be used to replace detrimental?

While in some cases nearly identical to detrimental, pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining.

the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of detrimental

Objectors have logically argued these roster caps are detrimental to roster-spot losing class members since their chance to play a sport at a college will be lost. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 7 Apr. 2025

Industrial tuna farming has had a detrimental impact on local fishermen. —Julia Amberger, Nanni Fontana, Marzio Mian, & Nicola Scevola (tr. Elettra Pauletto), The Dial, 3 Apr. 2025

The inability to find a disruptive pass rusher and the lack of game-changing edge rushers still available would suggest trading him would be even more detrimental to the hopes of resuscitating the pass rush. —Paul Dehner Jr., The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025

This buildup can have a detrimental effect on your plumbing system, so it's recommended to install a softener as soon as possible to treat the hard water issues and protect the plumbing. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025