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
While many are arguing (or speculating) about the true reason behind the attacks, as Ukraine had not attacked fertilizer plants before, the global food security and fertilizer markets are likely to suffer severe collateral damage no matter what the reasons for the attacks may be.
—
Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Understanding these pathways in more detail could lead to new treatments that modulate immune responses more precisely, reducing collateral damage while preserving antimicrobial defenses.
—Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
Asked about such reports, an Israeli military official said that only military targets were being struck, though there may have been collateral damage in some incidents.
—Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 21 June 2025
While Israel says the attacks aim to degrade Tehran's strike capacity, collateral damage on both sides has raised concern among international observers.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
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Daniel Markind, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
Understanding these pathways in more detail could lead to new treatments that modulate immune responses more precisely, reducing collateral damage while preserving antimicrobial defenses.
—Andrew Monteith, The Conversation, 25 June 2025
Asked about such reports, an Israeli military official said that only military targets were being struck, though there may have been collateral damage in some incidents.
—Maayan Lubell, USA Today, 21 June 2025
While Israel says the attacks aim to degrade Tehran's strike capacity, collateral damage on both sides has raised concern among international observers.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
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 5 Jul. 2025.
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