Detrimental
/ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntəl/
Definitions
Causing harm or damage; tending to cause harm.
/ˌdɛtrɪˈmɛntəl/
Causing harm or damage.
The lack of sleep was detrimental to her performance.
💡 Simply: Detrimental is like something that's bad for you, like eating too much candy or not wearing a helmet while riding your bike. It can hurt you or make things worse.
👶 For kids: Something that is detrimental is bad for you. It can hurt you or cause problems.
More Examples
Excessive screen time can be detrimental to children's eye health.
His negative attitude proved detrimental to the team's morale.
How It's Used
"Smoking is detrimental to your health."
"Making rash decisions can be detrimental to a company's success."
"Pollution is detrimental to the environment and its inhabitants."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
From Late Latin detrimentum 'harm, loss,' from deterere 'to wear away, rub off.'
The word has been used since the 17th century.
Memory tip
Think of a *detour* that leads to harm. Detrimental means harmful.
Word Origin
"harm, loss"