Dictionary
baneful
adjective bane·ful \ˈbān-fəl\
: causing destruction or serious damage : bad or evil
Full Definition of BANEFUL
1
: productive of destruction or woe : seriously harmful <a baneful influence>
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First Known Use of BANEFUL
1579
Related to BANEFUL
- Synonyms
- adverse, bad, baleful, harmful, damaging, dangerous, deleterious, detrimental, evil, hurtful, ill, injurious, mischievous, nocuous, noxious, pernicious, prejudicial, wicked
Synonym Discussion of BANEFUL
pernicious, baneful, noxious, deleterious, detrimental mean exceedingly harmful. pernicious implies irreparable harm done through evil or insidious corrupting or undermining <the claim that pornography has a pernicious effect on society>. baneful implies injury through poisoning or destroying <the baneful notion that discipline destroys creativity>. noxious applies to what is both offensive and injurious to the health of a body or mind <noxious chemical fumes>. deleterious applies to what has an often unsuspected harmful effect <a diet found to have deleterious effects>. detrimental implies obvious harmfulness to something specified <the detrimental effects of excessive drinking>.
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