Harmful

Pronunciation: /ˈhɑːrmfəl/

Definitions of harmful

adjective causing or capable of causing harm; injurious

Example Sentences

A1 Smoking is harmful to your health.

A2 Using harsh chemicals can be harmful to the environment.

B1 Excessive exposure to sunlight can have harmful effects on your skin.

B2 Consuming too much sugar can be harmful to your overall well-being.

C1 The harmful effects of air pollution on respiratory health are well-documented.

C2 It is important to be aware of the harmful consequences of deforestation on biodiversity.

Examples of harmful in a Sentence

formal Exposure to harmful chemicals can have serious health consequences.

informal Eating too much junk food is harmful to your body.

slang Gossiping about others can be really harmful in the long run.

figurative Holding onto grudges is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to be harmed.

Grammatical Forms of harmful

• past tense: harmed
• plural: harmfuls
• comparative: more harmful
• superlative: most harmful
• present tense: harm
• future tense: will harm
• perfect tense: have harmed
• continuous tense: is harming
• singular: harmful
• positive degree: harmful
• infinitive: to harm
• gerund: harming
• participle: harming

Origin and Evolution of harmful

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old English

Story behind the word: The word 'harmful' originated from the Old English word 'hearmful' which meant causing harm or injury.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'harmful' has retained its original meaning of causing harm or injury, but has also come to be used in a broader sense to describe anything that is detrimental or damaging.