What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
detrimental
Example
Smoking is detrimental to your health. [detrimental: adjective]
Example
The new policy could be detrimental to the company's profits. [detrimental: adjective]
harmful
Example
Exposure to radiation can be harmful to your health. [harmful: adjective]
Example
The chemicals in the cleaning product are harmful to the environment. [harmful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Harmful is more commonly used than detrimental in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between detrimental and harmful?
Detrimental is often used in a more formal or academic context, while harmful is more versatile and can be used in various formality levels.
