Today's Word

Deleterious

del-uh-TEER-ee-uhs

Definition

(adjective) Causing harm or damage, often in a subtle or unexpected way.

Example

Prolonged exposure to stress can have deleterious effects on your health.

Word Origin

Mid 17th century: from medieval Latin deleterius, from Greek dēlētērios ‘noxious’, from dēlētērios (related to destroy or *to hurt’).

Fun Fact

Deleterious is often used when something appears harmless but turns out to be damaging—like sugary drinks, misinformation, or prolonged noise. It’s not the loud crash—it’s the slow rot. You’ll find it in medical journals, legal decisions, and HR handbooks. It’s a favorite when talking about effects that are subtle, cumulative, and serious—without sounding dramatic.

Previous Words

Intractable

Today's Word

Intractable

in-TRAK-tuh-bul

Definition

(adjective) Hard to control, manage, or deal with; not easily relieved or cured; stubbornly resistant to change or solution.

Example

The peace talks collapsed again, stalled by the same intractable disagreements that had derailed every previous attempt.

Word Origin

From Latin intractabilis, meaning “unmanageable” — formed from in- (not) + tractabilis (manageable), which itself derives from tractare, meaning “to handle or manage.” The root tractare also gives us words like tractor, treat, and contract — all carrying the sense of handling or pulling something into order. Intractable, then, is literally that which cannot be pulled into line.

Fun Fact

In medicine, “intractable” has a very specific and serious meaning — an intractable condition is one that fails to respond to all standard treatments. Intractable epilepsy, for example, affects roughly one-third of all epilepsy patients whose seizures cannot be controlled by medication. The designation matters enormously in healthcare policy, as it often determines eligibility for experimental treatments, surgical intervention, or access to otherwise restricted medications. The word carries real weight in clinical settings in a way it rarely does in everyday conversation.

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Deleterious

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Previous Words

Intractable

Intractable

Definition

Example

Word Origin

Intractable

Congruity

Undulate

Panacea

Brusque