What Is Another Way to Say “Detrimental”?

Looking for synonyms for detrimental? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say detrimental.

  • Harmful
  • Damaging
  • Adverse
  • Negative
  • Injurious
  • Deleterious
  • Destructive
  • Disadvantageous
  • Prejudicial
  • Nocuous
  • Pernicious
  • Unfavorable
  • Disastrous
  • Bane
  • Ruinous

Want to learn how to say detrimental professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Harmful

Appropriate Use: Used when referring to something that causes physical, mental, or environmental damage.
Example: “Excessive screen time can be harmful to employees’ eyesight and overall well-being.”

2. Damaging

Appropriate Use: Ideal for describing actions or situations that cause deterioration or reduction in quality or integrity.
Example: “The data breach was highly damaging to the company’s reputation among its clients.”

3. Adverse

Appropriate Use: Suitable for situations where negative or unfavorable conditions or effects are present.
Example: “Adverse market conditions led to a significant downturn in our quarterly profits.”

4. Negative

Appropriate Use: Used when describing unfavorable, pessimistic, or harmful aspects or effects.
Example: “The project’s negative impact on team morale prompted a review of our management approach.”

5. Injurious

Appropriate Use: Used in contexts where physical harm or damage to health or well-being is caused.
Example: “Injurious working conditions in the factory led to several health complaints from the staff.”

6. Deleterious

Appropriate Use: Suitable for discussing subtle but harmful effects, often used in formal or scientific contexts.
Example: “The study highlighted the deleterious effects of air pollution on urban health.”

7. Destructive

Appropriate Use: Best used when referring to actions or processes that cause severe damage or destruction.
Example: “The CEO’s destructive leadership style eventually led to high staff turnover.”

8. Disadvantageous

Appropriate Use: Ideal for situations where a decision or situation puts someone at a disadvantage.
Example: “The new tax regulations proved to be disadvantageous for small business growth.”

9. Prejudicial

Appropriate Use: Suitable for circumstances where an action or decision causes unfair bias or prejudice.
Example: “The prejudicial policies implemented by the management affected employee morale.”

10. Nocuous

Appropriate Use: Useful in formal contexts to describe something harmful or noxious.
Example: “The nocuous emissions from the plant posed a serious threat to local wildlife.”

11. Pernicious

Appropriate Use: Used to describe something that has a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.
Example: “The pernicious influence of outdated practices hindered the company’s innovation.”

12. Unfavorable

Appropriate Use: Used when discussing conditions or situations that are not advantageous or beneficial.
Example: “The board’s decision to cut funding had an unfavorable effect on the research department.”

13. Disastrous

Appropriate Use: Ideal for situations that have extremely bad or catastrophic consequences.
Example: “The marketing campaign was disastrous, leading to a significant loss in customer trust.”

14. Bane

Appropriate Use: Often used metaphorically to refer to a source of great distress or annoyance.
Example: “Inefficient processes were the bane of the company’s productivity.”

15. Ruinous

Appropriate Use: Suitable for describing actions or events that cause great damage or lead to ruin.
Example: “The ruinous financial strategy led the firm to the brink of bankruptcy.”

Linda Brown