harmful
ˈhɑːrmfəl
Definition Synonyms

Definition of harmful - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
medicalhaving a negative effect on health
  • Eating too much sugar is harmful.
detrimental unhealthy
2.
dangercapable of causing harm or danger
  • Some chemicals are harmful if inhaled.
dangerous detrimental pernicious
Add a suggestion |

Expressions with harmful

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
likely to cause sickness or weaken the body over time
Doctors warn that frequent fast food can be harmful to health.
causing damage to nature or natural resources like air water and soil
The factory switched from environmentally harmful chemicals to safer alternatives.
online or offline material likely to hurt people or cause serious risk
The platform removes harmful content to protect young users.
situation where places lower taxes in ways seen as damaging elsewhere
International organizations publish lists to discourage harmful tax competition.

Origin of harmful

Old English, hearm (injury) + ful (full of)

Terms with harmful included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
badadj.
general
harmful or detrimental
general issue
matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful
worstadj.
impact
most harmful or severe
health illness
disease caused by harmful microorganisms
harmless
not harmful or dangerous
drug dependency
person dependent on harmful drugs
strong need
unable to stop doing or using something harmful
environment
contamination of air by harmful substances

Examples of harmful in a sentence

  • Polluted air can be harmful to children.
  • The harmful effects of pollution are evident.
  • Some plants can be harmful if touched.

View all translations of harmful

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:nocif, nuisible, ...
  2. German:schädlich, gefährlich, ...
  3. Italian:dannoso, ...
  4. Spanish:perjudicial, ...
  5. Portuguese:prejudicial, perigoso, ...
  6. Chinese:有害的, 危险的, ...
  7. Japanese:有害な, 危険な, ...
  8. Arabic:ضَارّ, مُؤْذٍ, ...
  9. Hebrew:מַזִּיק, מַזִּיק, ...
  10. Russian:вредный, пагубный, ...
  11. Ukrainian:шкідливий, згубний, ...
  12. Hindi:हानिकारक, नुकसानदेह, ...
Browse the dictionary entries starting with “h”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery