Deleterious

Meanings

1. Causing harm or damage
2. Injurious to health or well-being
3. Destructive

Example Sentences

• "The deleterious effects of pesticide overuse on soil quality are alarming Indian agronomists."
• "Smoking has a deleterious impact on nearly every organ in the human body."
• "Excessive screen time has deleterious consequences for children's cognitive development."

Etymology

From Greek 'deleterios' (destructive), from 'deleisthai' (to hurt, injure), from 'deletēr' (a destroyer). Not related to 'delete' (which comes from Latin 'delere', to destroy) — though the meanings are parallel.

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