deleterious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite harmful to living things
    hurtful; injurious.
    • deleterious chemical additives

WordNet

Del`e*te"ri*ous adjective
Etymology
LL. deleterius noxious, Gr. , fr. to hurt, damage; prob. akin to L. delere to destroy.
Definitions
  1. Hurtful; noxious; destructive; pernicious; as, a deleterious plant or quality; a deleterious example. -- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ly, adv. -- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ness, n.

Webster 1913