harmful
Harmful (adj) means Likely to cause harm, injury, or damage. Example: “Too much sun exposure can be harmful to your skin.”
How to use harmful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDamaging or dangerous; likely to hurt someone or something.
Word forms
harmfuller comparative, more harmful comparative, harmfullest superlative, most harmful superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Too much sun exposure can be _____ to your skin.
Etymology
From Old English, built from harm + the suffix -ful.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “harmful” mean?
The word “harmful” means likely to cause harm, injury, or damage. In plain terms, damaging or dangerous; likely to hurt someone or something.
How do you pronounce “harmful”?
“Harmful” is pronounced HAHMFL (/ˈhɑɹmfl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “harmful” in a sentence?
Here is “harmful” used in a sentence: “Too much sun exposure can be harmful to your skin.”
What is the opposite of “harmful”?
The opposite of “harmful” — its antonyms — are beneficial, harmless, valuable, helpful and innocent.
What part of speech is “harmful”?
“Harmful” is an adjective.
Where does the word “harmful” come from?
The word “harmful” comes from Old English. From Old English, built from harm + the suffix -ful.
Is “harmful” a common word?
“Harmful” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between harmful and dangerous?
Harmful describes something likely to cause actual harm, injury, or damage, often gradually or through use. Dangerous emphasises the risk or potential for harm, whether or not damage has yet occurred.
What is the difference between harmful and harmless?
Harmful means likely to cause harm, injury, or damage, while harmless means the opposite — unlikely to cause any damage at all. They are direct antonyms.
What are common collocations with harmful?
Harmful frequently pairs with words such as effects, substances, chemicals, and consequences, as in "harmful effects" or "potentially harmful." It is also common in the phrase "harmful to," as in harmful to health or harmful to the environment.
Can harmful describe emotional damage as well as physical injury?
Yes. Harmful covers any kind of harm, injury, or damage, so it can apply to emotional, psychological, and social harm as well as physical injury.
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