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Harmful vs Infectious - What's the difference?

harmful | infectious |

As adjectives the difference between harmful and infectious

is that harmful is of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious while infectious is transmitted from one person to another, usually through the air breathed.

harmful

English

Alternative forms

* harmfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious
  • Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "harmful" is often applied: effect, consequence, impact, influence, emission, chemical, ingredient, substance, gas, agent, additive, drug, radiation, dust, organism, plant, animal, insect, action, act, behavior, component, content, activity, interference, use.

    Synonyms

    * injurious; see also

    Antonyms

    * beneficial * harmless

    See also

    * harm

    infectious

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (pathology, of an illness) Transmitted from one person to another, usually through the air breathed.
  • Cancer is not infectious .
    More infectious diseases like the flu are usually less potent.
  • (pathology, of a person) Able to infect others.
  • Despite feeling better, the patient is still infectious .
  • (of feelings and behaviour) Spreading quickly from one person to another.
  • Her enthusiasm for work can be really infectious .
  • (informal) Memorable and invoking excitement or interest.
  • Pop music is more infectious than elevator music.

    Synonyms

    * (transmitted between persons as illness) catching, contagious * (able to infect others) contagious * (spreading quickly between persons) contagious * (memorable and exciting) catchy, contagious

    Derived terms

    * infection * toxicoinfectious

    Anagrams

    *