harm vs harmfulness

Both 'harm' and 'harmfulness' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Harm' is a noun that refers to the actual damage or injury caused, while 'harmfulness' is a noun that refers to the quality of being harmful or damaging.

Last updated: March 20, 2024 • 1178 views

The word 'harm' is a noun that refers to the actual damage or injury caused.

"harm"

Use 'harm' when referring to the actual damage, injury, or negative effects caused by something.

Examples:

The medication may cause harm if not taken as prescribed.
Exposure to the sun can cause harm to your skin.

Show examples from the web [+]

There is no harm in dating around.
There's no harm in checking.
Running that story will harm the country.
The dog defended his master from harm.
There's no harm in going back and asking.
Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm.
There can't be any harm to it.
Didn't do Errol Flynn any harm.
It's about doing more harm than good.
With brawn like his, I pity those who wish harm upon Florence.
- Spending each day immersed in tragedy may be doing more harm than good.
I promise no harm will come to your family.
So there's no harm in the last.
Maybe this time I did more harm than good.
If you harm that baby, I swear...
I say no harm, I think no harm, but I wish everybody good.
I say no harm, I think no harm.
Gary would never harm your baby.
Please understand that I didn't mean any harm.
I would never intentionally harm a fellow firefighter.

Alternatives:

damage
injury
negative effects
detriment

'Harmfulness' is a noun that refers to the quality of being harmful or damaging.

"harmfulness"

Use 'harmfulness' when referring to the quality or characteristic of something that causes harm.

Examples:

The harmfulness of smoking is well-documented.
The harmfulness of the chemical was evident in the study.

Show examples from the web [+]

before 1000; Middle English; Old English hearmful. See harm, -ful. Related forms. Expand. harmfully, adverb. harmfulness, noun. quasi-harmful, adjective.
The talk continued on the same subject for a long time--the harmfulness of a household dividing up--and it was clearly not an abstract discussion but concerned ...
harmfulness (countable and uncountable, plural harmfulnesses) ... “harmfulness ” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.
He used sunscreen because of the harmfulness of the sun's rays. If you have more questions or comments, you can find me on the Homework Help page ...

Alternatives:

toxicity
danger
detriment

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harm vs harmfulness

"harm"

"harmfulness"

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