Baneful
hardNegative toneBAYN-ful
adjective
Definition
Causing harm or ruin; pernicious; destructive
Memory hook
BANE-ful: full of BANE (poison/ruin) — like 'wolfsbane,' something deadly and destructive.
Examples
“The baneful effects of the pollution were evident in the dying forest.”
“Gossip had a baneful influence on office morale.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The ______ effects of the pollution were evident in the dying forest.”
Show answer
baneful
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Baneful is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "pernicious" or "deleterious" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "beneficial".
Related GRE Words
destructive
Causing great damage or harm; highly damaging
pernicious
Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way
deleterious
Causing harm or damage; injurious
injurious
Causing or likely to cause damage or harm
noxious
Harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant
baleful
Threatening harm; menacing; having a harmful or destructive effect
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