Library / English Dictionary

HARMFUL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Causing or capable of causing harm

Example:

harmful effects of smoking

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

stabbing; wounding (causing physical or especially psychological injury)

nocent (having a tendency to cause harm)

abusive (characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment)

bad (capable of harming)

bruising (causing mental or emotional injury)

deleterious; hurtful; injurious (harmful to living things)

calumniatory; calumnious; defamatory; denigrating; denigrative; denigratory; libellous; libelous; slanderous ((used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign)

catastrophic; ruinous (extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin)

counterproductive (tending to hinder the achievement of a goal)

damaging; detrimental; prejudicial; prejudicious ((sometimes followed by 'to') causing harm or injury)

ill (resulting in suffering or adversity)

insidious; pernicious; subtle (working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way)

mischievous (deliberately causing harm or damage)

Also:

offensive (causing anger or annoyance)

painful (causing physical or psychological pain)

toxic (of or relating to or caused by a toxin or poison)

unwholesome (detrimental to physical or moral well-being)

noxious (injurious to physical or mental health)

destructive (causing destruction or much damage)

malign (evil or harmful in nature or influence)

disadvantageous; unfavorable; unfavourable (involving or creating circumstances detrimental to success or effectiveness)

Antonym:

harmless (not causing or capable of causing harm)

Derivation:

harmfulness (destructiveness that causes harm or injury)

Credits

 Context examples: 

For most adults, moderate alcohol use is probably not harmful.

(Alcoholism, NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism)

For most people, the amount of caffeine in two to four cups of coffee a day is not harmful.

(Caffeine, Food and Drug Administration)

This may allow yeast or harmful types of bacteria to grow and cause infection.

(Douche, NCI Dictionary)

But they can sometimes be made more harmful by increasing their ability to cause disease, spread, or resist medical treatment.

(Biodefense and Bioterrorism, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Although usually not harmful, diarrhea can become dangerous or signal a more serious problem.

(Diarrhea, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

A network of blood vessels and tissue that is made up of closely spaced cells and helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain.

(BBB, NCI Dictionary)

A harmful substance made by bacteria that can cause illness.

(Bacterial toxin, NCI Dictionary)

An allergic response may cause harmful symptoms such as itching or inflammation or tissue injury.

(Allergic response, NCI Dictionary)

High levels of aluminum in the body can be harmful.

(Aluminum, NCI Dictionary)

A type of poisonous mushroom that has harmful effects on the kidneys and liver.

(Amanita phalloides, NCI Dictionary)