deleterious
2 antonyms and opposites of deleterious, grouped by meaning.
Adjective — Causing harm or damage, especially gradually and to health, an environment or a system.
Antonyms
How to use deleterious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal; most at home in scientific, medical and academic writing.
Etymology
From Greek dēlētērios 'noxious, destructive', from dēleisthai 'to hurt'.
Full origin of deleterious →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between deleterious and detrimental?
They are close in meaning and often interchangeable. Deleterious leans towards physical or biological damage and is the commoner word in medicine and science; detrimental is more general and is used freely about careers, reputations and business.
Is deleterious too formal for everyday writing?
It is a formal word. In conversation or plain-English copy, harmful or damaging usually reads better; keep deleterious for academic, medical and legal prose.