Deleterious — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌde-lə-ˈtir-ē-əs/ del·e·te·ri·ous

Meaning & Definition of Deleterious

Deleterious (adjective)

  1. harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way

Deleterious (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing or capable of causing harm

    "nicotine has long been recognized as a deleterious substance"

    similar: adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
    related: hostile, inimical, unfriendly, contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous, insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome, destructive, fatal, killer, lethal, malignant, ruinous
    opposite: anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe
    near: advantageous, beneficial, useful, favorable, good, propitious, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, secure, sound, benignant, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Deleterious

The most common words with a similar meaning to Deleterious:

adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, detrimental, evil, harmful, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Deleterious

Words with the opposite meaning of Deleterious:

anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive, safe

Related Words for Deleterious

hostile, inimical, unfriendly, contagious, deadly, infectious, infective, pestiferous, pestilent, pestilential, poisonous, venomous, insidious, menacing, ominous, sinister, threatening, hazardous, imperiling, jeopardizing, parlous, perilous, risky, unsafe, unsound, nasty, noisome, unhealthful, unhealthy, unwholesome

Near Antonyms of Deleterious

advantageous, beneficial, useful, favorable, good, propitious, curative, healthful, healthy, helpful, palliative, remedial, salubrious, salutary, wholesome, secure, sound, benignant, noncorrosive, nondestructive, nonfatal, noninfectious, nonlethal, nonpoisonous, nonpolluting, nontoxic, nonvenomous

Word Forms of Deleterious

Derived words: deleteriously (adverb), deleteriousness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Deleterious

Greek dēlētērios, from dēleisthai to hurt

First known use: 1587

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Deleterious

Frequently Asked Questions about Deleterious

What does "Deleterious" mean?

"Deleterious" means harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way. As an adjective, it is defined as: harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way.

What is another word for "Deleterious"?

Other words for "Deleterious" include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, detrimental and evil. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Deleterious" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Deleterious"?

There are 54 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Deleterious". Common alternatives include adverse, bad, baleful, baneful, damaging, dangerous, detrimental, evil, harmful and hurtful.

What is the opposite of "Deleterious"?

Antonyms of "Deleterious" include anodyne, benign, harmless, hurtless, innocent, innocuous, inoffensive and safe. Near antonyms include advantageous, beneficial, useful and favorable.

How do you use "Deleterious" in a sentence?

Examples of "Deleterious" in a sentence: "nicotine has long been recognized as a deleterious substance".

Is "Deleterious" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Deleterious" is an adjective.

Is "Deleterious" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Deleterious" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Deleterious"?

"Deleterious" is pronounced /ˌde-lə-ˈtir-ē-əs/ and divided into syllables as del·e·te·ri·ous.