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GRE vocabulary

deleterious

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore D words

harmful or damaging, often in a subtle way

Word origin: From Greek deleterios, noxious, from delesthai, to hurt.

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In a sentence

Deleterious in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing deleterious in a sentence.

Studies link prolonged stress to deleterious effects on the heart.

Researchers warned that chronic sleep loss has deleterious effects on memory that accumulate over years.

Synonyms
harmfulinjuriousdetrimental
Antonyms
beneficialhelpfulsalutary

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Verbal · Sentence Equivalence

Because the evidence linking the additive to the illness remained blank, regulators declined to issue a ban and instead called for further study.

Select the two answers that give the sentence the same meaning. 0 of 2 selected.

Usage & nuance

Using “deleterious” well

Deleterious describes harm that is often gradual or hidden, pairing with injurious and detrimental. It is a formal word favored in scientific and academic prose.

Common questions

Questions about “deleterious”

Deleterious (adjective) means harmful or damaging, often in a subtle way
Here is deleterious used in an example sentence: "Studies link prolonged stress to deleterious effects on the heart." Another example: "Researchers warned that chronic sleep loss has deleterious effects on memory that accumulate over years."
Common synonyms for deleterious include harmful, injurious, detrimental.
Antonyms of deleterious include beneficial, helpful, salutary.
Clusters with harmful, injurious, and detrimental in Sentence Equivalence. Antonyms beneficial, helpful, and salutary describe a healthful or favorable effect.
Yes. Deleterious is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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