deleterious
Bad for you
Deleterious means harmful or damaging, especially in a gradual or subtle way: the deleterious effects of smoking, deleterious to one's health.
The word is formal and appears most often in scientific, medical, or legal contexts.
It implies harm that accumulates or undermines rather than destroys outright.
Causing physical harm
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- unhealthyHarmful to wellbeing
- unwholesomeDetrimental to wellbeing
- damagingCausing loss or injury
harmful · pernicious · debilitating · detrimental · insalubrious · pathological · morbid · degenerative
Capable of causing death
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- lethalCausing or capable of death
virulent · contaminated · radioactive · neurotoxic · cytotoxic · teratogenic · hazardous · pollutant
Causing harm or damage
- disadvantageousCausing harm or hindrance
- unfavorableNot in your benefit
- prejudicialHarmfully biasing an outcome
- counterproductiveHindering intended outcome
adverse · ruinous · damaging · calamitous · catastrophic · disastrous · undermining · subversive
Introducing harmful contaminants
- contaminatingMaking something impure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
pesticides · runoff · degradation · ecosystem · biodiversity · habitat · eutrophication · acid rain
Developing slowly over time
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- hiddenKept out of sight
unnoticed · slow-acting · progressive · imperceptible · latent · chronic · long-term · incremental
injurious
Causing physical harm
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
- unhealthyHarmful to wellbeing
- unwholesomeDetrimental to wellbeing
damaging · harmful · pernicious · debilitating · detrimental · insalubrious · pathological · morbid · degenerative · weakening
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
lethal · virulent · contaminated · radioactive · neurotoxic · cytotoxic · teratogenic · hazardous · pollutant · chemical
detrimental
Causing harm or damage
- disadvantageousCausing harm or hindrance
- unfavorableNot in your benefit
- prejudicialHarmfully biasing an outcome
counterproductive · adverse · ruinous · damaging · calamitous · catastrophic · disastrous · undermining · subversive · corrosive
polluting
Introducing harmful contaminants
- contaminatingMaking something impure
- emissionsSubstances released into air
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
deforestation · pesticides · runoff · degradation · ecosystem · biodiversity · habitat · eutrophication · acid rain · carbon
gradual
Developing slowly over time
- cumulativeIncreasing by successive additions
- creepingMoving slowly, stealthily
- subtleNot immediately obvious
hidden · unnoticed · slow-acting · progressive · imperceptible · latent · chronic · long-term · incremental · compounding