Deleterious Meaning in English
word
ˌdɛɫəˈtɪɹiəs
del-uh-TEER-ee-uhs
dɪlɪtˈiəɹɪəs
dil-it-EE-uh-ree-uhs
Definition
Causing harm, damage, or having a negative effect. Often used in formal or scientific contexts.
Usage & Nuances
Very formal/scientific; rarely used in casual speech. Often describes effects on health, environment, or society. Common collocations: 'deleterious effects', 'deleterious impact'. Not a synonym for 'bad'—it's stronger and more specialized.
Spanish: perjudicial - nocivoPortuguese (BR): prejudicial - nocivoPortuguese (PT): prejudicial - nocivoChinese (Simplified): 有害的 - 不利的Chinese (Traditional): 有害的 - 不利的Hindi: हानिकारक - नुक़सानदेहArabic: ضار - مؤذٍBengali: ক্ষতিকারক - অপকারীRussian: вредный - пагубныйJapanese: 有害なVietnamese: có hại - gây hạiKorean: 해로운 - 유해한Turkish: zararlı - olumsuz (etki)Urdu: مضر - نقصان دہIndonesian: merugikan - berdampak buruk
Example Sentences
Smoking has deleterious effects on your health.
basic
The chemical spill was deleterious to the river's fish.
basic
Some medicines have deleterious side effects.
basic
That new policy might have deleterious consequences for small businesses.
natural
People often ignore the deleterious impact of stress on their body.
natural
Overusing antibiotics can be deleterious to public health in the long run.
natural