Helpful & Harmful Vocabulary List

50 vocabulary flashcards covering all key terms from the lecture notes on helpful and harmful concepts.

beneficial

producing good effects; helpful in achieving a positive result

advantageous

providing a benefit; favorable or profitable

constructive

helpful and improving; tending to build up

conducive

making something possible or easier; contributing to

practical

concerned with what is real or workable rather than theoretical

pragmatic

realistic and focused on practical applications or consequences

reinforce

to strengthen or support something

bolster

to support, prop up, or hold up

buttress

to reinforce or support, often physically

undergird

to support from below; to provide a foundational basis

utilize

to make practical use of

employ

to apply or make use of a resource or skill

exploit

to use selfishly or unethically for one’s own gain

leverage

to make effective use of something to achieve a result

expedite

to speed up the progress of; to accomplish quickly

facilitate

to make an action or process easier; to assist

accommodate

to provide what is needed or desired; to adapt or oblige

apt

appropriate, suitable, or relevant

relevant

closely connected to the current topic or situation

pertinent

directly related and important to the matter at hand

efficacious

effective; capable of producing the desired result

means

a method, instrument, or resource for achieving something

medium

a channel or tool through which something is accomplished

mechanism

a system or process designed to achieve a specific goal

benign

gentle, kind, or not harmful

innocuous

harmless; not likely to offend or injure

boon

a benefit, blessing, or advantage

bane

a source of great annoyance or harm

nuisance

something that causes annoyance or inconvenience

forestall

to prevent something by acting ahead of time

preclude

to make impossible; to prevent from happening

impede

to slow or obstruct progress

inhibit

to restrain, hinder, or hold back

hamper

to slow or interfere with movement or progress

hinder

to create difficulties that slow or stop progress

thwart

to successfully prevent or defeat a plan or effort

encumber

to weigh down, burden, or hinder

undermine

to weaken gradually or subtly

compromise

to weaken, endanger, or impair; also, to reach a mutual agreement

crude

rough or unfinished in form; lacking detail or refinement

makeshift

serving as a temporary or improvised substitute

rudimentary

basic, simple, or undeveloped

exacerbate

to make more severe or worsen

aggravate

to intensify or make worse; to annoy

endanger

to put someone or something in danger

jeopardize

to risk losing or harming; to endanger

adverse

unfavorable, harmful, or opposing success

detrimental

tending to cause harm or a negative effect

insidious

subtly harmful and gradual in effect

pernicious

extremely harmful or deadly