harmful

harm-ful · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Causing or capable of causing harm, damage, or injury.

  2. 2.

    Having a negative or detrimental effect on something.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    harmful effects — negative consequences or impacts
  • •
    harmful substances — materials that can cause damage or injury
  • •
    environmentally harmful — damaging to the natural world

Related words

Antonyms: beneficial, harmless, helpful, safe
See also: damage, dangerous, harm, harmless
Synonyms: damaging, dangerous, detrimental, hurtful, injurious

Etymology

From Middle English, formed from harm + the suffix -ful ("full of"). The word harm derives from Old English hearm ("grief, pain, injury").