collateral damage
noun
: injury inflicted on something other than an intended target
specifically
: civilian casualties of a military operation
Examples of collateral damage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Traditional quest narratives, shaped by the hero’s journey, are tethered to swords, battles, monsters, and a troubling disregard for collateral damage.
—
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Here’s to every day being a good hair day this spring… and to your wallet not having to take on the role of collateral damage.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Mar. 2026
The war with Iran is doing collateral damage to the world economy.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
These political leaders should instead thank businesses willing to support Maryland’s economy and denounce any effort to inflict collateral damage on businesses working hard to pay their employees and add economic value to the state.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
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Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Here’s to every day being a good hair day this spring… and to your wallet not having to take on the role of collateral damage.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 16 Mar. 2026
The war with Iran is doing collateral damage to the world economy.
—Paul Wiseman, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
These political leaders should instead thank businesses willing to support Maryland’s economy and denounce any effort to inflict collateral damage on businesses working hard to pay their employees and add economic value to the state.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
Cite this Entry
“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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