adj

detrimental

deht-rih-MEHN-tuhl

adj

Causing harm or damage.

"Smoking is detrimental to your health."

"Cutting corners proved detrimental to the project's quality."

How to Use Detrimental

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHarmful or damaging.

Easily confused with

detriment →

Common pairings

detrimental effect detrimental to health

more detrimental comparative, detrimentals plural, most detrimental superlative

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Smoking is _____ to your health.

From Medieval Latin detrimentalis, from Latin detrimentum ("harm").

mental dental rental parental Oriental elemental accidental ornamental judgmental incidental monumental regimental