detrimental
causing harm or damage
Word origin: From Latin detrimentum, loss or damage, from deterere, to wear away.
Detrimental in a sentence
Here are example sentences showing detrimental in a sentence.
Skipping sleep is detrimental to both memory and mood.
Excessive screen time before bed can be detrimental to the quality of one's sleep.
Using “detrimental” well
Detrimental means harmful and pairs with damaging and injurious. It is slightly formal and often introduces an effect that works against health, interests, or success.
More GRE words starting with D
to engage in something superficially or as a casual pastime
a raised platform for speakers or honored guests
to waste time or act without urgency
to make something slightly wet, or to make a feeling or reaction less strong
marked with spots or patches of color or light
to intimidate or discourage with fear or doubt
to move slowly or waste time idly
a scarcity or shortage of something
Questions about “detrimental”
See these words the way the GRE tests them.
Definitions in isolation do not stick. Sit a free, full-length GRE mock and meet this vocabulary inside real text completion and sentence equivalence questions, with your score and a worked solution for every answer.