Usage of the two words

Question

I know that the two words "inimical" and "detrimental" are equivalent in meaning, but can they always be substituted for each other? Thank you

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

These have a similar meaning but the usage is typically different. Inimical is used in more abstract, academic situations, while detrimental is used in more practical, down-to-earth senses.

Heavy drinking is detrimental to your health. If you substitute inimical here, the sentence is quite understandable, but it sounds heavy-handed and overly melodramatic.

They tried to bring together in one government factions that were inimical to each other. If you substitute detrimental here, the sentence is understandable, but it doesn't sound academic enough.

Terryxpress · Answer

What exact meaning do you think they share?

Chivalry · Answer

AnonymousThese have a similar meaning but the usage is typically different. Inimical is used in more abstract, academic situations, while detrimental is used in more practical, down-to-earth senses.Heavy drinking is detrimental to your health. If you substitute inimical here, the sentence is quite understandable, but it sounds heavy-handed and overly melodramatic.They tried to bring together in one government factions that were inimical to each other. If you substitute detrimental here, the sentence is understandable, but it doesn't sound academic enough.

So I should say "inimical" in sentences like:
"Doing something like going back to college for another bachelor's in the mid 20s is undoubtedly inimical to your life."

instead of "detrimental"?

And I don't understand about the part of "inimical" being more academic?
That makes detrimental more casual then ?

My original thought was that inimical is meant to indicate something "intangible," while "detrimental" will mostly be applied to things tangible, like environmental mayhem caused by tourism or other things.

Terryxpress · Answer

Your playboy lifestyle would be inimical to going back to college to study for another degree.

Anonymous · Answer

The sentence should be:

Doing something like going back to college for another bachelor's degree when you're in your mid-20's might be detrimental to your finances. Finances is practical and down-to-earth so you use detrimental.

However:

If you're in your 20's and in love, going back to school for a second bachelor's degree might be inimical to love. Love is abstract and so you use inimical.

If you're in your 20's and working as a rodeo cowboy, your lifestyle would be inimical to going back to school for a PhD. in comparative literature. You're dealing with academics here and so you use inimical.

Terryxpress · Answer

If you're in your 20's and in love, going back to school for a second bachelor's degree might be inimical to love. Love is abstract and so you use inimical.

OR
That being in love, and the amount of time you want to spend together, would be inimical to studying and doing assignments, and the number of hours this would require each night and at the weekend.
It has nothing to do with anything 'abstract'.

If you're in your 20's and working as a rodeo cowboy, your lifestyle would be inimical to going back to school for a PhD. in comparative literature.
'inimical' because the lifestyle of rodeo cowboys involves travelling all over the country to the various competitions, while a college/uni course requires you to be in the one town most of the year.
or
Taking a Uni. course would be inimical to pursuing your passion for rodeo riding, with of its itinerant lifestyle.
'academics' has nothing to do with it.

I remember when TV first came to our town. Word spread that watching that bright screen in the dark for more than an hour was detrimental to your eyesight.

Usage of the two words

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