damning

adjective

damn·​ing ˈda-miŋ 

1

: bringing damnation

a damning sin

2

: causing or leading to condemnation or ruin

presented some damning testimony

damningly

ˈda-miŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of damning

• disastrous
• unfortunate
• fatal
• catastrophic

Examples of damning in a Sentence

a damning flaw in the program cost the company millions of dollars

Recent Examples on the Web

For a party struggling to grasp levers of power, the gambit shone a damning, bright spotlight on a controversial and politically complex issue for the GOP for more than a month. —Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026

But the drop in shot attempts is most glaring — and the most damning indictment of Brown’s new offense. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 31 Mar. 2026

The official police and legal record, on the other hand, paints a much more damning picture of Bolsonaro’s participation in a coup plot. —Anthony W. Pereira, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026

Indeed, few movies have ever been more damning or prescient in their condemnation of the health industrial complex, which hides all manner of sins under the guise of physical improvement. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing damning

• self-damning

Rhymes for damning

• amang
• cramming
• damming
• hamming
• jamming
• lambing
• ramming
• slamming
• diagramming
• reprograming
• reprogramming
• multiprogramming