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Definition of detrimental

detrimental

/ˌdɛt.ɹɪˈmɛn.təl/
det · ri · men · tal
Adverb:detrimentally
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detrimental Lexical Profile

detrimental Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Tending to cause harm, damage, or disadvantage; injurious or unfavorable.

Example

"Prolonged sleep deprivation can have a detrimental effect on cognitive performance and overall health."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for detrimental

• Nearby Words

detract
detractor
detriment
detrimental
detrimentally
detritus
detroit

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-17th century from the noun detriment, which derives via Old French from Latin detrimentum ('a rubbing off, loss, or damage'), from the verb deterere ('to wear away').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Detrimental. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/detrimental
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