Learn a Word Daily — Deleterious
Today’s word is "Deleterious": Causing harm or damage.
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Word of the Day · January 4, 2026
Deleterious
del-uh-TEER-ee-us · adjective
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Definition
Causing harm or damage.
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Origin & Etymology
From Latin dēlēteri(us), influenced by Greek dēlētḗrios, meaning “destructive.”
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Nuance
Deleterious is a formal way to say “harmful,” often for slow, subtle, or long-term effects.
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Usage
“A constant lack of sleep can be deleterious to your health.”
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Fun Fact
You’ll often see deleterious in research papers—it's the “polite” academic version of “bad for you.”
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