damaging

adjective

dam·​ag·​ing ˈda-mi-jiŋ How to pronounce damaging (audio)
: causing or able to cause damage : injurious
has a damaging effect on wildlife
damagingly adverb

Examples of damaging in a Sentence

the damaging effects of the sun on your skin The storm may produce damaging winds. He says he has damaging information about the candidate. The evidence was very damaging to their case.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In a surprising aside given the damaging, lurid testimony in the trial about Combs’ private life, Agnifilo said one of Diddy’s future goals is to perform at one of New York’s most iconic venues again. Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 7 Aug. 2025 Even though plants need sun to grow, too much scorching sunshine can be damaging. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Aug. 2025 The region sees a more damaging one only a couple times a century, if that. Alexa St. John, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025 This baseless, damaging claim undermines the valuable work and dedication of BLS staff who produce the reports each month. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damaging

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of damaging was circa 1828

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Cite this Entry

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damaging. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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