detrimental
deht-rih-MEHN-tuhl
Detrimental (adj) means causing harm or damage. Example: “Smoking is detrimental to your health.”
adj
1
Causing harm or damage.
"Smoking tobacco can be detrimental to your health."
"It agrees that redundant services should not be continued but is not unmindful of the fact that too much retrenchment of rail services now may ultimately prove detrimental to the economy of the country."
— , Notes and News: Redundant Branches and Stations (1955)
"Smoking is detrimental to your health."
"Cutting corners proved detrimental to the project's quality."
"Constant noise from the road can be detrimental to children's sleep and concentration."
How to use detrimental
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHarmful or damaging.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
detrimental effect
detrimental to health
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Word forms
- Plural
- detrimentals
- Comparative
- more detrimental
- Superlative
- most detrimental
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Smoking is _____ to your health.
Etymology
From Medieval Latin detrimentalis, from Latin detrimentum ("harm").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for detrimental
mental
dental
rental
parental
Oriental
elemental
accidental
ornamental
judgmental
incidental
monumental
regimental
See all rhymes for detrimental →
Frequently asked questions
What does “detrimental” mean?
The word “detrimental” means causing harm or damage. In plain terms, harmful or damaging.
How do you pronounce “detrimental”?
“Detrimental” is pronounced deht-rih-MEHN-tuhl (/ˌdɛtɹɪˈmɛntəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “detrimental” in a sentence?
Here is “detrimental” used in a sentence: “Smoking is detrimental to your health.”
What part of speech is “detrimental”?
“Detrimental” is an adjective.
Where does the word “detrimental” come from?
The word “detrimental” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin detrimentalis, from Latin detrimentum ("harm").
Is “detrimental” a common word?
“Detrimental” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between "detrimental" and "harmful"?
"Detrimental" and "harmful" both describe something that causes damage, but "detrimental" often carries a more formal tone and is frequently used to describe effects on abstract things like health, reputation, or performance. "Harmful" is more general and can apply just as easily to physical injury. In many contexts the two words are interchangeable.
Is "detrimental" typically followed by "to"?
Yes, "detrimental" is almost always followed by "to" plus a noun, as in "detrimental to health" or "detrimental to the environment." This is the standard grammatical pattern for the word and should not be replaced with "for" or "on."
Is "detrimental" a formal word?
Yes, "detrimental" is generally considered more formal than everyday alternatives like "harmful" or "bad," and it appears often in academic, legal, and professional writing. In casual conversation, speakers are more likely to use simpler words to express the same idea.
