English Dictionary

Definition of “deleterious

deleterious (ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəsPronunciation for deleterious

Definitions

adjective

  1. harmful; injurious; hurtful

Alternative Forms

ˌdeleˈteriously adverb ˌdeleˈteriousness noun

Word Origin

C17: from New Latin dēlētērius,  from Greek dēlētērios  injurious, destructive, from dēleisthai to hurt

Usage examples

  • But neither shows evidence of long-term deleterious effect in children attending day-care from an early age.
    Spiked (2004)
  • There were instances of the "deposition of deleterious substances and unauthorized disturbances to fish habitat," for example.
    Ottawa Sun (2003)
  • My experience is that the use of woodland sites for Airsoft has no deleterious effect on the native wildlife.
    Times, Sunday Times (2002)
  • Cannabis has been used in many countries for centuries, so any severe deleterious effects would be well known by now.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

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