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
Another blue-green algae alert for Lake Yale The Florida Department of Health in Lake County (DOH-Lake) has issued a public health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algae toxins in Lake Yale-Northwest Shore, following the results of a water sample taken Dec. 5.
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Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024
Pasteurization kills all these harmful germs, including H5N1, a recent government study shows.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
By ending wasteful subsidies on gas equipment, the PSC can free up funds to help more families and businesses make the switch to clean, efficient appliances such as heat pumps, which offer state-of-the-art heating and cooling year-round without harmful air pollution.
—Susan Miller, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Plenty of research finds that supplements aren’t all that beneficial for the average person, and may in some cases even be harmful or expose users to dangerous substances.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmful 
Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 19 Dec. 2024
Pasteurization kills all these harmful germs, including H5N1, a recent government study shows.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN, 19 Dec. 2024
By ending wasteful subsidies on gas equipment, the PSC can free up funds to help more families and businesses make the switch to clean, efficient appliances such as heat pumps, which offer state-of-the-art heating and cooling year-round without harmful air pollution.
—Susan Miller, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024
Plenty of research finds that supplements aren’t all that beneficial for the average person, and may in some cases even be harmful or expose users to dangerous substances.
—Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for harmful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harmful
Adjective
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Yet the uptick in travel to the ends of Earth has a detrimental impact on the environment, further exacerbating the impact of the climate crisis on fragile ecosystems.Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
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In revealing how the prairie was consumed by colonization and agricultural practices time has proven detrimental, Smarsh’s piece is equal parts fascinating history and ecology lesson.Longreads, Longreads, 19 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Triggering a damaging government shutdown would hurt families who are gathering to meet with their loved ones and endanger the basic services Americans from veterans to Social Security recipients rely on.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024
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Some of the strongest evidence comes from lab studies using animals as well as what's already known about the damaging effects of chemicals added to plastics.Will Stone, NPR, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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The Women by Kristin Hannah (St. Martin’s Press: $30) An intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time.The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 25 Dec. 2024
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The night was a downhill slope, a movement in woeful reverse, a tidal pull back into the tumult and dangerous madness of what must now be called the era of Trump.Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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While no adverse health effects have been reported, consumers are advised not to consume these items and to either throw them away or return them.Anissa Reyes, Baltimore Sun, 26 Dec. 2024
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Alcon Laboratories, which manufacturers the eye drops, has not received any reports of customers suffering adverse effects, the FDA said.Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Not bad for someone who was initially rejected for the role of Mariko.Jake Kanter, Deadline, 24 Dec. 2024
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And there’s a solution also for it, which is good parenting versus bad parenting.Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near harmful
Cite this Entry
“Harmful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harmful. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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