The word "detrimental"

 The word "detrimental" means causing harm or damage; harmful. It's often used to describe something that has a negative effect on a situation, person, or thing.

Here's how to use "detrimental" in sentences, along with explanations:

Common Usage:

• Smoking is highly detrimental to your health. (This is a very common and direct use, showing a clear negative impact.)
• Lack of sleep can be detrimental to academic performance. (Shows how something negative affects an outcome.)
• The company's new policy proved detrimental to employee morale. (Highlights a negative effect on a group's feelings or state.)
• His reckless behavior was detrimental to the team's success. (Points to an individual's actions having a negative impact on a collective goal.)

With Prepositions:

• Detrimental to: This is by far the most common preposition used with "detrimental."
  • "Excessive screen time can be detrimental to a child's development."
  • "The recent scandal was detrimental to the politician's reputation."

In Formal Contexts:

• The judge ruled that the evidence was detrimental to the defense's case. (Used in a legal context to describe unfavorable evidence.)
• Economists warned that the trade war would be detrimental to global commerce. (Used in an economic or geopolitical context.)
• Such practices could have a detrimental effect on the environment. (Highlights a negative impact on the natural world.)

As Part of a Clause/Phrase:

• They identified several factors that could be detrimental to the project's completion. (Describes factors that pose a risk.)
• He avoided anything that he thought would be detrimental to his career. (Describes a proactive avoidance of harmful things.)

Things to remember about "detrimental":

• It's an adjective.
• It almost always implies a negative or harmful effect.
• It's a more formal word than "bad" or "harmful," often used in writing or more serious discussions.
• The phrase "detrimental effect" or "detrimental impact" is very common.