Schädlicher

Schädlicher is the comparative form of the German adjective schädlich, meaning more harmful or more detrimental. It is used to describe something that causes greater harm relative to another thing, situation, or expectation. The word appears in health, safety, environmental, and science contexts, as well as in everyday language.

Etymology and formation: schädlich derives from Middle High German schædlich and ultimately from a root related to harm or damage in the Germanic language family. The comparative form schädlicher is created by adding the standard comparative suffix -er to the base adjective, with appropriate declension according to grammar rules when it introduces a noun or clause.

Usage and examples: Schädlicher is most common in explicit comparisons, often introduced by als or wie. For example: Der neue Stoff ist schädlicher als der alte. Das Verhalten ist schädlicher geworden, als es vorher war. In attributive position before a noun one may speak of a schädlicher Einfluss (a more harmful influence) or schädlichere Auswirkungen (more harmful effects) in plural. In predicates, schädlicher can describe the subject: Der Stoff ist schädlicher.

Related forms and nuances: The positive form is schädlich; the superlative is am schädlichsten. German also uses related terms such as gesundheitsschädlich (health-harmful) to specify the domain of harm. While schädlicher focuses on comparative harm, precise usage depends on context and declension rules, particularly regarding article presence and noun gender/number.

See also: schädlich, gesundheitsschädlich, Schadensvermeidung.