as in detrimental
causing or capable of causing harm
DDT has been proven to be extremely harmful to the environment
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Recent Examples of harmful
And the cost of making the wrong choice isn’t just financial — evidence suggests that overdoing it on products can be harmful, breaking down the skin’s natural protective barriers.
—
Emma Dibdin, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
These drops offer full protection thanks to non-nano zinc oxide, a true physical sunscreen that shields from harmful UV rays, says Dr. Lal, without leaving a white residue.
—Siena Gagliano, Allure, 20 Feb. 2025
Over time, this instruction manual can accumulate errors due to various factors like exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, smoking or even just natural wear and tear.
—Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025
Researchers may have found that the tartaric acid in grapes and raisins is the substance which is harmful to dogs.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Emma Dibdin, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
These drops offer full protection thanks to non-nano zinc oxide, a true physical sunscreen that shields from harmful UV rays, says Dr. Lal, without leaving a white residue.
—Siena Gagliano, Allure, 20 Feb. 2025
Over time, this instruction manual can accumulate errors due to various factors like exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays, smoking or even just natural wear and tear.
—Prosper Obed Chukwuemeka, The Conversation, 20 Feb. 2025
Researchers may have found that the tartaric acid in grapes and raisins is the substance which is harmful to dogs.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
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Studies have also shown that exercising during times of poor air quality—for instance, when there is a high level of these fine particulates in the air—is detrimental to our health.—
Claire Maldarelli,
Scientific American,
28 Feb. 2025
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And all deal with American iconography: more specifically, the nation’s foundational reliance on mythology and self-dramatization and the largely detrimental impact of all of that on, well, just making love and having children and trying to keep the wolf from the door.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The storms are also known for their strong, damaging winds.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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Hurricane Helene was a Category 4 storm that created a 500-mile path of destruction from Florida to North Carolina with catastrophic flooding, damaging winds and power outages.—
Devyn Byers,
CNN,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And maybe keep them away from a dangerous young Pistons team in the first round.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2025
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The 400-mile race is scheduled to start on Sunday after it was delayed by more than a month due to warm temperatures and a dangerous trail.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Sitting for too long can lead to a host of adverse health effects, but taking short movement breaks throughout the day can offset these risks.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
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Some such adverse impacts include difficulty driving or with close-up activities like reading, writing, cooking, sewing or fixing things around the house.—
Daryl Austin,
USA TODAY,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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However, irrational exuberance can leads stocks of good companies to be bad stocks.—
Hersh Shefrin,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Almost—the Cybertruck somehow manages to look worse in real life than in pictures; the confluence of angles where its various steel body panels fit together somehow serves to prove the exception to the rule that is the golden ratio.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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