PREJUDICIAL Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

prejudicial

adjective

ˌpre-jə-ˈdi-shəl

Definition of prejudicial

as in detrimental

causing or capable of causing harm pretrial publicity that may be extremely prejudicial to a defendant's right to a fair trial

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in adverse

opposed to one's interests the defense will try to counterbalance the mass of prejudicial evidence presented by the prosecution

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of prejudicial In addition, the judge was right to exclude from evidence Motsinger’s 1970s-era LSD and marijuana use as irrelevant, prejudicial and improper character evidence, the Motsinger attorneys further state. — City News Service, Daily News, 31 May 2026 Musk’s lawyers argued that such sentiments were blatantly prejudicial. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026 In 2022, however, the Georgia Supreme Court tossed out the murder verdict (PDF), saying that prosecutors had introduced needlessly inflammatory and prejudicial material about Harris’ personal life at his trial. — Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026 To have air traffic controllers or the Transportation Security Administration to go without pay is insane and prejudicial to public safety. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for prejudicial

Recent Examples of Synonyms for prejudicial

Adjective

New redistricting maps There’s also the detrimental effects for Democrats of recent redistricting in Florida.

— Joshua Ceballos, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026
The math curriculum, in my view, has been detrimental to many students.

— Olivia Young, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of detrimental

Adjective

Then England attracted adverse attention for openly drinking in the Queensland resort of Noosa when 2-0 down in a one-sided Ashes series in Australia.

— Paul Newman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Women with high occupational heat exposure were roughly twice as likely to suffer a miscarriage or stillbirth as those working in cooler conditions, and faced elevated risks of adverse birth outcomes overall.

— Catarina Rolfsdotter-Jansson, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of adverse

Adjective

Child development experts have noted teenagers are more susceptible to social comparison than adults, so products that reward popularity can be more harmful to their mental health.

— ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Beneficial bacteria also provide colonization resistance, competing with harmful microbes for nutrients and attachment sites while producing substances that inhibit their growth.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of harmful

Adjective

The greatest risk from the storms will be from damaging winds and heavy downpours.

— Rachael Jay, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Although both helped mitigate the effects of the gas, urine offered some degree of chemical protection because its ammonia partially neutralized the chlorine, reducing the gas’s damaging and potentially lethal effects on the lungs.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of damaging

Adjective

The party has a 54% unfavorable rating compared to 40% favorable, according to a RealClearPolitics polling average.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 19 Aug. 2026
But experts said the administration likely would appeal an unfavorable ruling to the Supreme Court, leaving the fate of hundreds of children and their families in doubt.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfavorable

Adjective

The desert’s location on the southern border has led to many migrants attempting to cross it by using dangerous backcountry routes, the experts said.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Rather, this is a dangerous, shape-shifting synthetic entity that ravaged their entire planet.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of dangerous

Adjective

Alice and Gemma really don’t seem to get along, and neither seems inclined to back down from their hostile postures.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
The true target of the strike was Turkey, which has grown increasingly hostile toward Israel since the war in Gaza, and over its differing approach to Syria.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hostile

Browse Nearby Words

prejudices

prejudicial

prejudicing

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Style

“Prejudicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prejudicial. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of prejudicial

adjective

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