# detrimental

/ˌdɛtɹəˈmɛnəɫ/ (US) · /dˌɛtɹɪmˈɛntəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/detrimental
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. harmful

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

causing harm or damage to something.

For teachers: causing damage, harm, or disadvantage. Often used with the preposition 'to'.

- Too much stress can be detrimental to your physical health.
- The new trade regulations proved detrimental to small businesses, which lacked the capital to absorb the increased administrative costs.

Usage: Commonly follows the verb 'to be' and precedes the preposition 'to'.

## Examples

- Smoking is detrimental to your health.
- The lack of sleep was detrimental to his performance in the final exam.
- While short-term austerity measures may stabilize the budget, their long-term impact on social cohesion can be profoundly detrimental.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.