Basic Details
Word: Detrimental
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Causing harm or damage to something.
Synonyms: Harmful, damaging, injurious
Antonyms: Beneficial, helpful, advantageous
Idioms and Phrases
- A detrimental effect: Refers to an impact that brings harm or a negative outcome. Example: "The study showed that smoking has a detrimental effect on health."
- Not without its detrimental aspects: Used when something has both positive and harmful aspects. Example: "Though the project was ambitious, it was not without its detrimental aspects, such as increased costs."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Excessive screen time can be detrimental to children's eyesight and overall health.
Example 2: Poor eating habits are often detrimental to one's physical fitness.
Example 3: The film's release was delayed due to its potentially detrimental content for younger audiences.
Fun Fact
The word "detrimental" comes from the Latin word "detrimentum," which means "damage or loss." It was adopted into English in the late 15th century and has been used in various contexts since then.
Famous Quote
"The most detrimental thing we can do is to ignore the things that are important to us." - Unknown
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does the word "detrimental" mean?
a) Helpful
b) Causing harm
c) Convenient
d) Ineffective
Answer: b) Causing harm
2. Which of these is a synonym for "detrimental"?
a) Beneficial
b) Helpful
c) Harmful
d) Advantageous
Answer: c) Harmful
3. Which sentence uses "detrimental" correctly?
a) Eating vegetables is detrimental for health.
b) Lack of exercise can have detrimental effects on wellbeing.
c) The cat is detrimental on the mat.
d) He finds books detrimental for learning.
Answer: b) Lack of exercise can have detrimental effects on wellbeing.
4. Which idiom means that something has harmful effects?
a) A detrimental effect
b) As easy as pie
c) A blessing in disguise
d) Once in a blue moon
Answer: a) A detrimental effect
5. What is the opposite of "detrimental"?
a) Dangerous
b) Helpful
c) Harmful
d) Damaging
Answer: b) Helpful
