detrimental
gb/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl/ us/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl/
C1
English
~ 9400
káros
C1
FORMAL
1
káros
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is detrimental to [something]
Smoking has a clearly detrimental effect on your health.
A dohányzásnak egyértelműen káros hatása van az egészségedre.
Long working hours can be detrimental to employees’ mental well-being.
A túl hosszú munkaidő káros lehet a dolgozók mentális jóllétére.
The new policy is likely to be detrimental to small businesses.
Excessive screen time may be detrimental to young children's development.
Poor diet and lack of exercise are detrimental to long-term health.
Learner examples
Too much sugar is detrimental to your health.
A túl sok cukor káros az egészségedre.
Noise at night is detrimental to good sleep.
Az éjszakai zaj árt a jó alvásnak.
This law is detrimental to small companies.
Cold, wet weather can be detrimental to crops.
The change was detrimental to our plans.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"detrimental for"* instead of the more natural pattern *"detrimental to"* (e.g., say "detrimental to health," not "detrimental for health"). They may also overuse it in very casual speech, where "bad for" or "harmful to" would sound more natural.
Meaning
Causing harm or damage
Collocations
detrimental effect
|detrimental impact
|detrimental to health
|detrimental consequences
|prove detrimental
Synonyms
harmful (More general and more common in everyday speech; slightly less formal than "detrimental.")
|
damaging (Stresses the actual damage done; can sound a bit stronger or more concrete than "detrimental.")
|
adverse (Common in formal or technical contexts, especially about conditions or effects.)
Antonyms
beneficial (Highlights that something produces good results instead of harm.)
|
advantageous (Stresses that something gives a benefit or advantage, the opposite of a negative effect.)
Themes
health
|work
|environment
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Causing harm, damage, or a bad result.
Causing or likely to cause harm, damage, or a negative result.
Grammar
Dictionary form
detrimental
IPA
GB/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl/
US/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl/
Syllables & stress
det - ri - ment - al (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ment)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: detrimental
Word family
Core family
detriment
noun C1
Advanced or less common
detrimentally
adverb C1
Expressions
be detrimental to
1/bˈi dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl tə/
fixed phrase
formal
To be harmful to something
To be bad for something or cause harm to it.
Examples
- Constant stress can be detrimental to your health.
- Poor communication is often detrimental to a team’s success.
detrimental effect
1/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl ɪfˈɛkt/
fixed phrase
formal
A harmful effect or result
A bad or harmful result that something causes.
Examples
- The drug can have a detrimental effect on the liver.
- Experts warned about the detrimental effect of pollution on marine life.
detrimental impact
1/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl ˈɪmpækt/
fixed phrase
formal
A harmful impact or influence
A strong harmful influence or result that something has.
Examples
- The factory’s waste has a detrimental impact on the local environment.
- Social media can have a detrimental impact on some teenagers’ self-esteem.
detrimental to health
1/dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl tə hˈɛlθ/
fixed phrase
formal
Harmful to a person’s health
Bad for your body or health.
Examples
- Doctors agree that heavy drinking is detrimental to health.
- A diet high in processed food is detrimental to health over time.
prove detrimental
1/pɹˈuv dˌɛtɹəmˈɛntəl/
fixed phrase
formal
Turn out to be harmful
To later show that something is harmful or bad.
Examples
- The decision to cut training may prove detrimental in the long term.
- Ignoring these early signs could prove detrimental to the company’s future.