Deleterious effects, however, are often not so obvious; deleterious is used to describe things that are harmful in ways that are unexpected, slow-acting, or not readily apparent.

DELETERIOUS definition: injurious to health. See examples of deleterious used in a sentence.

Serious and unpleasant (Definition of deleterious from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Definition of deleterious adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

deleterious, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

4 days ago · Adjective deleterious (comparative more deleterious, superlative most deleterious) (formal) Harmful, often in a subtle or unexpected way. Synonyms: destructive, harmful, hurtful, injurious, …

deleterious in British English (ˌdɛlɪˈtɪərɪəs ) adjective harmful; injurious; hurtful

If something is deleterious, it does harm or makes things worse. Smoking has obvious deleterious effects on your health, not to mention your social life.

Harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way (as for example deleterious effects, deleterious to health).

Having a harmful effect; injurious: the deleterious effects of smoking. [From Greek dēlētērios, from dēlētēr, destroyer, from dēleisthai, to harm.]