IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
detrimental
adjectiveˌdetrɪˈmentlBand 8
Last updated 2 September 2026
In short
“detrimental” is a Band 8 adjective that means tending to cause harm or damage. Below you'll find its pronunciation, natural example sentences, synonyms and antonyms, and the collocations that help you use it accurately in the IELTS Speaking test.
Meaning
Tending to cause harm or damage.
Example sentences
- “Plastic waste is detrimental to marine life.”
- “A lack of sleep is detrimental to your health.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
harmfuldamagingadverse
Antonyms
beneficialadvantageous
Collocations & common phrases
Collocations
detrimental effectdetrimental to healthdetrimental impact
Common phrases
have a detrimental effect on
Related words
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Frequently asked questions
What does “detrimental” mean?
Tending to cause harm or damage.
How do you use “detrimental” in a sentence?
For example: “Plastic waste is detrimental to marine life.”
What are some synonyms for “detrimental”?
Synonyms include harmful, damaging, adverse.
Is “detrimental” good vocabulary for IELTS Speaking?
Yes. It is Band 8 vocabulary, and collocations such as detrimental effect, detrimental to health, detrimental impact help you use it naturally. Reaching for precise, less common words like this is exactly what lifts your Lexical Resource score.