English Explanatory Dictionary

deleterious

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Harmful, often in a subtle or unexpected way.
  2. Having lower fitness.

Pronunciation

/ˌdɛl.ɪˈtɪə̯.ɹi.əs/ /ˌdɪl.ɪˈtɪə̯.ɹi.əs/ /ˌdɛ.ləˈtɪɹ.i.əs/ en-us-deleterious.ogg en-au-deleterious.ogg

Word forms

deleterious more deleterious most deleterious deletorious

Etymology

Adapted borrowing (1640s; 1582 as deletorious) of New Latin dēlētērius, dēlētōrius + -ous, from Ancient Greek δηλητήριος (dēlētḗrios, “noxious, deleterious”), from δηλητήρ (dēlētḗr, “a destroyer”), from δηλέομαι (dēléomai, “I hurt, damage, spoil, waste”). Not related to delete or deleble. Doublet of deletery.

Synonyms

destructive harmful hurtful injurious noxious pernicious damaging deleterious detrimental inimical mischievous nocent nocuous noisome prejudicial scathand scathel sullen venom

Derived words

deleteriously deleteriousness nondeleterious undeleterious
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