damning

1 of 2

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

damning

2 of 2

present participle of damn entry 1

Synonyms of damning

Adjective

• disastrous
• unfortunate
• fatal
• catastrophic

Examples of damning in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Undeterred, the press has continued to publish damning reports about his chaotic management of the Pentagon at home and the US military’s disastrous conduct overseas. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026

And, perhaps the most damning evidence was the information provided by Douglas Heim, who alleged that Heck approached him at a bowling alley shortly after killing Kahler and recruited him to help move and bury her body. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

But its cultural dominance became bound up in a widespread vilification of Drake that curdled online, where the most damning interpretation of anything could quickly become the accepted one. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026

But Sam has been troubled by the strange overlap between Reeger’s career and their fathers and has found some seemingly damning evidence that suggests Reeger isn’t telling the whole story. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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