This is the 9569th most frequent French word.
délétère
Harmful or destructive.
Here, 'délétères' is used as an adjective to describe the harmful effects of chemical substances on health, emphasizing their negative impact.
Les substances chimiques dans l'air peuvent avoir des effets délétères sur la santé.
Chemical substances in the air can have detrimental effects on health.
In this sentence, 'délétère' is used figuratively to suggest that the work environment is damaging or unhealthy, not physically, but in terms of morale or mental health.
Un environnement de travail délétère peut réduire la productivité des employés.
A harmful work environment can reduce employee productivity.
Here, 'délétère' is used to convey the damaging impact of harmful speeches on the societal fabric, indicating a toxic or injurious effect.