detrimentally
gb/dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/ us/dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
formal
C1
property
1
in a harmful way
In a way that makes something worse or causes damage.
Usage pattern:
detrimentally + [verb] (e.g., affect, impact, alter) / [verb] + detrimentally
Common mistake:
Often confused with 'detrimental' (adjective); 'detrimentally' is the adverb used to describe how something happens.
Synonyms
adversely (More common and broadly used in formal contexts.)
|
harmfully (More direct about causing harm or damage.)
|
negatively (Often used for general bad effects, not necessarily serious harm.)
Antonyms
beneficially (In a way that produces benefits or improvement.)
|
positively (In a good or helpful way.)
Collocations
affect detrimentally
|impact detrimentally
|influence detrimentally
|be detrimentally affected
|be detrimentally impacted
|detrimentally alter
|detrimentally change
|detrimentally harm
|detrimentally affect health
|detrimentally affect performance
Themes
health
|environment
|business
|science
Examples
- The chemical can detrimentally affect aquatic life if it leaks into rivers.
- Lack of sleep detrimentally impacts concentration and mood.
- The new policy detrimentally changed how quickly patients could access care.
Learner examples
- Too much sugar can detrimentally affect your health.
- This decision will detrimentally impact the project.
adverb
formal
C1
relation
2
to someone’s disadvantage
In a way that makes someone’s situation worse or less likely to succeed.
Usage pattern:
detrimentally + [verb] + [someone/something’s] prospects/position
Common mistake:
Learners may use it where 'unfairly' is intended; 'detrimentally' focuses on negative effects, not moral judgment.
Synonyms
disadvantageously (More explicitly about being at a disadvantage, often in comparison with others.)
|
unfavorably (Often used for outcomes, reviews, or decisions that go against someone.)
Antonyms
advantageously (In a way that improves someone’s position or chances.)
|
favorably (Especially for judgments or outcomes that help someone.)
Collocations
detrimentally affect prospects
|detrimentally affect chances
|detrimentally affect a career
|detrimentally affect a reputation
|detrimentally impact job security
|detrimentally influence outcomes
|detrimentally change negotiations
|detrimentally affect eligibility
Themes
business
|law
|work
|education
Examples
- A long gap in employment can detrimentally affect your chances of being shortlisted.
- The comment detrimentally impacted her reputation within the team.
- Rushing the contract review may detrimentally change the terms you end up accepting.
Learner examples
- Missing classes can detrimentally affect your grades.
Grammar
Dictionary form
detrimentally
IPA
GB/dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/
US/dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/
Syllables & stress
det - ri - ment - ally (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (det)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: detrimentally
- Plural: detrimentallies
Word family
Forms
detrimentallies
noun
Core family
detriment
noun C1
detrimental
adjective C1
Negative and opposite forms
beneficial
adjective B2
beneficially
adverb
Expressions
affect [something] detrimentally
1/əfˈɛkt sˈʌmθɪŋ dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/
fixed phrase
formal
harm something’s condition
To make something worse.
Examples
- High temperatures can affect battery life detrimentally.
- The delay affected the schedule detrimentally.
- The treatment may affect the liver detrimentally in rare cases.
be detrimentally affected
1/bˈi dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli əfˈɛktɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
suffer negative effects
To be harmed or made worse by something.
Examples
- Children can be detrimentally affected by long-term stress.
- Local wildlife was detrimentally affected by the spill.
- Small businesses were detrimentally affected by the road closure.
impact [something] detrimentally
1/ɪmpˈækt sˈʌmθɪŋ dˈɛtɹɪmˈɛntəli/
fixed phrase
formal
negatively impact something
To have a bad effect on something.
Examples
- Budget cuts will impact services detrimentally.
- The outage impacted customer trust detrimentally.
- Skipping warm-ups can impact performance detrimentally.