nachteilig
detrimental
Definition & meaning
Nachteilig means disadvantageous, unfavorable, or detrimental. It describes something that creates a disadvantage or has a negative effect on a person, situation, or outcome.
Grammar & word origin
Nachteilig is an adjective. It is formed from Nachteil (“disadvantage”) and the suffix -ig, which forms adjectives. It can be inflected according to the noun it describes.
Comparative: nachteiliger (“more disadvantageous”); superlative: am nachteiligsten (“most disadvantageously” / “most disadvantageous”).
It commonly appears with für (“for”) to name who or what is affected.
Synonyms & antonyms
- ungünstig — “unfavorable”; a broad synonym that can describe circumstances that are not suitable or favorable, without necessarily emphasizing harm.
- schädlich — “harmful”; stronger than nachteilig, often suggesting actual damage.
- negativ — “negative”; broader and less specific, describing an unfavorable quality or effect.
Antonyms:
- vorteilhaft — “advantageous”; the closest opposite, describing something that provides a benefit.
- günstig — “favorable”; often used for conditions or circumstances that work well.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Rauchen ist für die Gesundheit nachteilig.adjective
Smoking is detrimental to health.
Lange Arbeitszeiten sind für das Familienleben nachteilig.adjective
Long working hours are detrimental to family life.
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