Words / B1

HAHMFL/ˈhɑːmfl/

Harmful means causing damage: harmful emissions; harmful to health; harmful content. Harm is already in the dictionary. Damaging is close; dangerous stresses immediate risk. Harmless is the opposite (next entries). Public-health copy: harmful drinking; Ofcom: harmful content.

Meaning

Causing damage to health, people, or the environment.

Examples

• “The advert was banned for making harmful claims about the diet.”
• “Air pollution is harmful to children with asthma.”

Good to know

harmful to; harmful + noun. Noun/verb: harm. Close: damaging. Immediate risk: dangerous. Opposite: harmless. Media: harmful content.

Near in meaning

damaging

New