deleterious

[ del-i-teer-ee-uhs ]

adjective

1. injurious to health:

   deleterious gases.

2. harmful; injurious:

   deleterious influences.

   Synonyms: noxious, destructive, hurtful, pernicious

   Antonyms: beneficial

deleterious

/ ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs /

adjective

1. harmful; injurious; hurtful

Derived Forms

• ˌdeleˈteriously, adverb
• ˌdeleˈteriousness, noun

Other Words From

• dele·teri·ous·ly adverb
• dele·teri·ous·ness noun
• nondel·e·teri·ous adjective
• nondel·e·teri·ous·ly adverb
• nondel·e·teri·ous·ness noun
• undel·e·teri·ous adjective
• undel·e·teri·ous·ly adverb
• undel·e·teri·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deleterious¹

1635–45; < Greek dēlētḗrios destructive, adj. derivative of dēlētḗr destroyer, equivalent to dēlē- variant stem of dēleîsthai to hurt, injure + -tēr agent suffix + -ios adj. suffix; -ious

Word History and Origins

Origin of deleterious¹

C17: from New Latin dēlētērius, from Greek dēlētērios injurious, destructive, from dēleisthai to hurt

Example Sentences

Many voice the belief that the digital world has a deleterious effect on their lives while at the same time admitting they cannot imagine abandoning it.

From Los Angeles Times

“There’s been very mixed evidence about whether mergers in the grocery store industry have a deleterious effect on pricing,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

If FDA follows the panel, “it will be very deleterious for the field,” he says.

From Science Magazine

"Some deleterious topological waves can be excited unintentionally, and we want to understand them so that they can be removed from the system," Qin said.

From Science Daily

Senescent cells also exude molecules that can trigger inflammation and other deleterious effects.

From Science Magazine