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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 • 947 views

harm

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

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.
  • 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

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

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.
  • 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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