deleterious to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deleterious to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is harmful or damaging to a person, group, or thing. Example: "The chemicals were found to be deleterious to the local wildlife." Alternative expressions include "harmful to," "detrimental to," and "injurious to."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

There is little doubt that lack of coverage was deleterious to their health.

The New York Times

Anything that takes away from the process of getting vaccine into people is deleterious to the whole process".

The New York Times

"There's no question that it is highly, highly deleterious to butterflies and other arthropods, even mammals in high enough doses".

The Guardian

"When you begin to lawyer up the label, it is deleterious to public health," Mr. Pitts said.

The New York Times

Many government departments have been accused of using bogus arguments to hide information deleterious to their interests.

The Guardian

"Particularly worrying are the levels of small particulate matter (PM 10) in the atmosphere, which is severely deleterious to public health," the report stated.

The New York Times

Caffeine and phosphoric acid may be deleterious to bone health, but the exact reason for the reduction in bone density remains unclear.

The New York Times - Health

"The discovery that this chlorine-laden atmosphere can be deleterious to the lungs of young children exercising in it is not surprising," the researchers wrote.

The New York Times - Health

There is surely a good argument that engaging in political opportunism here would be deleterious to the UK's longer term negotiating position in Europe.

The Guardian

Passivity is no better: it would allow the strike to go on and on, something deleterious to the union actors, the small producers, your employer and your conscience.

The New York Times - Magazine

Additionally, it further inflames wider Arab and Muslim opinion, which is similarly deleterious to the project of tolerance and coexistence in the region.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with abstract nouns like "health", "growth", "environment" or "interests" to maximize its natural stylistic flow.

Common error

Using "deleterious to" in everyday conversation or informal emails can appear overly stilted or pretentious. In these cases, it is more effective to use simpler alternatives such as "<a href="/s/bad+for" target="_blank" rel="alternative">bad for" or "<a href="/s/harmful+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">harmful to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deleterious to" functions as an adjective phrase followed by a prepositional complement. It is most frequently used as a predicative adjective (following a linking verb like "to be") to qualify the impact of one subject on an object. According to Ludwig AI, it is consistently used to bridge a cause and its negative effect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Fiction

3%

Social Media

2%

Personal Correspondence

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deleterious to" is a robust and sophisticated way to describe harm or damage within formal English. With 59 high-quality examples provided by Ludwig AI, it is clear that this expression is a staple of scientific and academic discourse, as well as high-standard journalism. Its usage is characterized by a specific structure where the adjective "deleterious" is almost exclusively followed by the preposition "to". While highly effective in professional settings, writers should be mindful of its formal register and opt for simpler terms like "<a href="/s/harmful+to" target="_blank" rel="alternative">harmful to" in casual contexts. Overall, it remains one of the most reliable ways to convey clinical or systemic negativity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

detrimental to

highly interchangeable and frequently used in both formal and professional writing

harmful to

a simpler, more direct alternative suitable for general or less formal contexts

injurious to

carries a slightly more legal or health-specific connotation of physical harm

pernicious to

implies harm that is subtle, gradual, or particularly insidious

inimical to

suggests something is hostile or actively working against a goal or state

prejudicial to

often used in legal or official contexts to indicate damage to a right or interest

damaging to

focuses on the resulting damage or destruction caused by the subject

destructive to

conveys a more intense or final level of harm than simple deleterious effects

toxic to

specific to biological, environmental, or metaphorical poisonous impacts

counterproductive to

focuses on hindering progress toward a specific objective rather than general harm

FAQs

Is "deleterious to" a formal expression?

Yes, it is considered highly formal and is primarily found in scientific journals, medical reports, and prestige journalism like "The New York Times".

What is the difference between "deleterious to" and "detrimental to"?

The two are almost perfectly interchangeable, though "detrimental to" is slightly more common in business and general professional writing.

Can I use "deleterious for" instead of "deleterious to"?

While occasionally seen, "deleterious to" is the standard idiomatic construction. Using "to" ensures your writing aligns with established linguistic patterns found in high-quality sources.

When should I use "deleterious to" in a sentence?

You should use it when describing things that cause harm, such as "smoking is "deleterious to health"" or "high inflation is "deleterious to the economy"".