noun

detriment

detriment, harm, damage

Smoking is a detriment to your health.

Smoking is a detriment to your health.

He worked long hours, to the detriment of his family life.

He worked long hours, to the detriment of his family life.

a detriment to ((sth.)) a detriment to your health

to the detriment of ((sth.)) to the detriment of his career

Synonyms: harm, damage, disadvantage; Antonyms: benefit, advantage

From Latin detrimentum 'loss, damage', from deterere 'to rub away, wear down'. It comes from de- (away) + terere (to rub).

Think of something being 'rubbed away' until it's damaged. This damage is a detriment.

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