deleterious
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for deleterious, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Causing harm or damage, especially gradually and to health, an environment or a system.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use deleterious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
deleterious effect
deleterious impact
deleterious to health
deleterious consequences
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.
