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deleteriouscausing harm or damage; having a harmful effect

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: causing harm or damage; having a harmful effect

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌdɛləˈtɪriəs/

Example Sentences

  • My grandmother insists that using smartphones has a deleterious effect on young people's ability to have real conversations.
  • The deleterious impact of too much caffeine became apparent when I started seeing dancing coffee beans during my presentation.
  • Air pollution has deleterious effects on both human health and the environment.

deleterious

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌdɛləˈtɪriəs/]

causing harm or damage; having a harmful effect

Causing harmful damage
💡 Concept

Causing harmful damage

Delete serious things — deleterious damage done!
🧠 Mnemonic

Delete serious things — deleterious damage done!

The mysterious fumes look serious - clearly deleterious!
🎵 Rhyme

The mysterious fumes look serious - clearly deleterious!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌdɛləˈtɪriəs/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌdɛləˈtɪəriəs/

🌳Etymology

Rootdelet-
Suffix--ious

Origin

From Greek 'deleterios' meaning 'harmful' or 'injurious,' derived from 'deletērios' (destructive), which comes from the root 'deleter' (a destroyer or harmful agent).

Breakdown

dele- (destroy, delete) + -terious (causing harm) = deleterious (causing damage or harm)

🎵Rhyme

seriousmysteriousimperious
serious
mysterious
imperious

🔗Collocations

deleterious effects
deleterious consequences
deleterious impact
deleterious to health
deleterious substances

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

My grandmother insists that using smartphones has a deleterious effect on young people's ability to have real conversations.

😄 Fun example

The deleterious impact of too much caffeine became apparent when I started seeing dancing coffee beans during my presentation.

Air pollution has deleterious effects on both human health and the environment.

The company's deleterious business practices eventually led to its downfall.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

harmfuldamagingdetrimentalinjuriousadverse

Antonyms

beneficialhelpfuladvantageous

Related

toxicdestructiveperniciousnoxious

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