hurtful

adjective

hurt·​ful ˈhərt-fəl How to pronounce hurtful (audio)
: causing injury, detriment, or suffering : damaging
hurtfully adverb
hurtfulness noun

Examples of hurtful in a Sentence

She can't forgive him for the hurtful things he said. Their comments were really hurtful to me.
Recent Examples on the Web When it is broadcast by a prominent athlete such as a rising star in national women’s soccer, the hurtful impact runs deeper and wider. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024 Recognizing how hurtful this has been to others is a big step, not just for breaking the habit, but also for acknowledging how hurtful this has been to you. Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024 Each birth anniversary, there’s a well-meaning but hurtful practical joke. Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024 Mike Kroeger, the band’s bassist and brother of lead singer Chad, said brushing off the hurtful comments is easier when they’re not directed at an individual. Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 30 Mar. 2024 People do not need to face each other, cope with the natural demands of social situations, tolerate rejection and other hurtful interpersonal experiences, and be physically present and conversationally coherent and relatable. Jennifer "jay" Palumbo, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Some advocates for blind people say this use of Braille feels exploitative and can perpetuate hurtful stereotypes of blind people. Christopher Kuo, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024 Sometimes, the message itself is not hurtful, but the way it is delivered can be. Luciana Paulise, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Gerry was shunned on the street and—especially hurtful—in the sailing club. Rebecca Panovka, Harper's Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurtful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hurtful was in 1526

Dictionary Entries Near hurtful

Cite this Entry

“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurtful. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

hurtful

adjective
hurt·​ful ˈhərt-fəl How to pronounce hurtful (audio)
: causing injury or suffering : damaging
hurtfully adverb
hurtfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hurtful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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