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Definitions

harmful

[hahrm-fuhl] / ˈhɑrm fəl /
ADJECTIVE
injurious, hurtful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adverse bad catastrophic damaging destructive detrimental disadvantageous disastrous inimical noxious painful pernicious risky ruinous sinful toxic unhealthy unsafe
WEAK
baleful baneful calamitous cataclysmic consumptive corroding corrupting crippling deleterious dire evil harassing incendiary internecine malefic malicious malignant menacing mischievous murderous nocuous pestiferous pestilential sinister subversive undermining unwholesome virulent
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantageous aiding assisting beneficial favorable fortunate good harmless healthy helpful honest kind lucky profitable safe upright

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Such changes could make tissues more susceptible to other harmful influences, including infections, inflammation, and environmental stress.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

“Status quo practices and policies are especially harmful when the world is changing this fast,” Warsh told lawmakers at his Senate confirmation hearing this week.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order rescheduling Food and Drug Administration-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis products as a less harmful substance — a move that led to celebration but also confusion among industry observers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

He has made it more difficult for states to regulate harmful uses of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

But I didn’t realize that Chicago’s very existence could be harmful to people outside who just want to be thought of as whole.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth

Vocabulary lists containing harmful

Earth Day

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Unfavorable

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