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What is another word for Harmful? – 138 Harmful Synonyms

    Need another word for Harmful? Use these synonyms of Harmful from our thesaurus to say it differently.


    Synonyms & Similar Words

    damaging detrimental hurtful injurious adverse deleterious pernicious malicious malevolent nocuous baneful baleful calamitous disastrous catastrophic destructive devastating erosive corrosive poisonous toxic noxious lethal fatal malignant virulent vicious cruel brutal savage ferocious inimical antagonistic hostile unfavorable unwholesome unhealthful unsalutary mischievous prejudicial unfavorable unpropitious inopportune disadvantageous unadvantageous deleterious counterproductive

    Meaning of Harmful

    The primary meaning of "harmful" is causing or capable of causing damage or injury.

    Definitions

    • Causing or capable of causing damage or injury, either physical or emotional.
    • * Having a detrimental or adverse effect on something or someone.

    Etymology of Harmful

    The word "harmful" originates from the Old English and Old Norse words "harm" and "ful", with "harm" derived from the Proto-Germanic word "harmon" and the Proto-Indo-European root "ker-", which carried a sense of damaging or injuring.
    Historically, the word has been used since the 15th century to describe actions, behaviors, or substances that cause damage or injury.

    Example Uses

    • The company was fined for releasing harmful chemicals into the environment.
    • * Smoking is a harmful habit that can lead to serious health problems.
    • * The new policy has had a harmful impact on the local community.

    Antonyms & Near Antonyms

    harmless benign innocuous non-toxic safe salutary wholesome healthful beneficial advantageous favorable propitious opportune advantageous constructive positive uplifting edifying enriching improving remedial curative restorative therapeutic

    Related Nouns

    damage injury harm trauma wound lesion poison toxin pollutant contaminant pathogen virus bacteria disease disorder affliction malady illness sickness disease infection infestation

    Related Verbs

    harm damage injure wound poison pollute contaminate infect infest destroy devastate erode corrode deteriorate impair weaken debilitate enfeeble cripple maim

    Related Adjectives

    harmful damaging detrimental hurtful injurious adverse deleterious pernicious malicious malevolent nocuous baneful baleful calamitous disastrous catastrophic destructive devastating erosive corrosive poisonous toxic noxious lethal fatal