harmful

[ hahrm-fuhl ]

adjective

1. causing or capable of causing harm; injurious:

   a harmful idea;

   a harmful habit.

   Synonyms: deleterious, damaging, detrimental, hurtful

   Antonyms: beneficial

harmful

/ ˈhɑːmfʊl /

adjective

1. causing or tending to cause harm; injurious

Derived Forms

• ˈharmfully, adverb
• ˈharmfulness, noun

Other Words From

• harmful·ly adverb
• harmful·ness noun
• quasi-harmful adjective
• quasi-harmful·ly adverb
• un·harmful adjective
• un·harmful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of harmful¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English hearmful; harm, -ful

Example Sentences

It can lead to lung injury, coma and death within seconds when consumed in large amounts, but even small doses can still be very harmful.

From BBC

It should also be assessed how frightening, worrisome or harmful they are considered to be.

From Science Daily

While high inflation is considered harmful, a small amount of inflation is considered necessary to drive economic growth.

From BBC

The OSA demands tech firms take more responsibility for the content on their platforms to protect children from some legal but harmful material.

From BBC

Vandenbush was booked into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center for sending harmful material to a minor, contacting a minor for sexual purposes and arranging to meet a minor for sexual purposes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adverse
• bad
• catastrophic
• damaging
• destructive
• detrimental
• disadvantageous
• disastrous
• inimical
• noxious
• painful
• pernicious
• risky
• ruinous
• sinful
• toxic
• unhealthy
• unsafe