detriment

noun

ˈde-trə-mənt How to pronounce detriment (audio)
Definition of detrimentnext
1
as in harm
something that causes loss or pain opponents of casino gambling claim that it is a detriment to society at large

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success the requirement that runners wear shoes for the race worked to his detriment since he was used to running barefoot

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of detriment These might be a detriment when an illness or injury requires specialized care. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 To some, mostly fantasy football enthusiasts, Allen’s arrival was viewed as a detriment to Downs, as the 2023 third-round pick enters the final year of his rookie deal. — James Boyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 More recently, former 5 News presenter Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije sued ITN over allegations of sexism, racial harassment, unfair dismissal, and suffering a detriment due to exercising her whistleblowing rights. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, most of the industry's leading players contend that restricting use of the models would be to our own detriment and would place too much power in the hands of too few companies. — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for detriment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detriment
  1. harm
  2. disadvantage
  3. damage
  4. expense
  5. injury
Noun
  • Earlier this year, an open letter from agency leadership warned against using federal funds to buy harm reduction supplies like sterile syringes and pipes, or to distribute test strips for common drug supply contaminants.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The harm caused by the delays spurred immigration attorneys and advocates in the state to send a letter to Chief Judge Sul Ozerden in March about the habeas bottleneck.
    — Carla Astudillo, ProPublica, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of harm
Noun
  • For a few years, needing a mortgage was almost a disadvantage for home buyers.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The spokesperson went on to say that any new standards are designed to account for circumstances that may be outside of an applicant’s control, thus placing them at an unfair disadvantage.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of disadvantage
Noun
  • After the demonstrations, the cutting edge remained intact, with no visible chipping or major edge damage.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The province of Jijel, 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of Algiers, renowned for its fine sandy beaches, turquoise waters and hills of olive trees and fruit trees and cedars, has suffered the greatest damage.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of damage
Noun
  • Others argued the city cannot afford massive new spending on police, its greatest expense, and must make the department more efficient.
    — Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Family Dollar employee suffered damages, including losses in compensation and benefits, medical expenses, and anxiety and emotional distress, according to the EEOC.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of expense
Noun
  • Parten said two police officers were wounded by gunfire and another had unspecified injuries.
    — Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Players can also request a three-minute medical time-out for each injury that occurs — which could include overheating symptoms such as dizziness or cramps.
    — Aaron Short, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of injury

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detrains
detriment
detrimental
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Cite this Entry

“Detriment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detriment. Accessed 6 Sep. 2026.

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