IELTS Speaking · Vocabulary
detrimental
adjective/ˌdetrɪˈmentl/Band 8
Last updated 21 July 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
Natural, spoken examples at the level an examiner rewards.
- “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
Word partners that make your usage sound natural — the difference between knowing a word and using it well.
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.
Next step
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