as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in injuring
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wounding
to cause bodily damage to
his knee was badly damaged in the accident, and he walked with a limp for months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damaging
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Chicago weather threat Thursday includes the possibility of severe storms bringing very large hail, damaging winds, and a lower but not zero chance of tornadoes.
—Laura Bannon, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
The physical security of the data centers is more precarious, and the conflict is damaging the economic health of the petrostates, thereby jeopardizing a major source of further investment in American AI firms.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
For years, social media companies have been shielded from most legal threats thanks to laws that grant them immunity from the potentially inflammatory or damaging content their users post.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
The Chicago weather threat Thursday includes the possibility of severe storms bringing very large hail, damaging winds, and a lower but not zero chance of tornadoes.
—Laura Bannon, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Cody Turner, an ethicist at Bentley University, also says that sycophantic AI can cause harm by damaging our ability to gather knowledge.
—Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
The physical security of the data centers is more precarious, and the conflict is damaging the economic health of the petrostates, thereby jeopardizing a major source of further investment in American AI firms.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
-
The same jury acquitted Lopez of more than a dozen other charges and hung on five counts of sending harmful material to a minor.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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While the video amused viewers, experts warn that repeatedly hitting the snooze button can be harmful.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The order vacated guilty verdicts from the 2018 trial of Renardo Williams, who was convicted of killing Bethgy Catora and shooting and injuring Mayklens Francois during a drug deal gone wrong.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Rodriguez landed on his knees, injuring his shoulder, and was hoisting himself back up when Hernandez allegedly targeted Williams, according to prosecutors.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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During a Fourth of July protest outside an Alvarado detention center, at which demonstrators were setting off fireworks, an assailant fired a gun, wounding a police officer.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Give forgiveness room by admitting your limits before pushing past them and wounding your soul.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Importantly, there was no detrimental effect on strength or durability from the additives.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
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However, a full recovery is unlikely in the near term, meaning many detrimental impacts could persist, or even intensify, through the rest of the year.—
Daniel Manzo,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
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Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Stagflation fears are also hurting economic prospects.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
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The war is also crippling supplies of helium and fertilizer, hurting chipmakers and farmers alike.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Community members and city leaders say the combination of narrow streets, heavy foot traffic and frequent parking maneuvers can create dangerous conditions.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Assault with a dangerous weapon on a person 60 or older.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yet, Scolnick said if there were any questions about compromising safety, a supervisor would ask a controller to stay later for overtime.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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There’s evidently a limit to how far an actor will go in compromising their ability to portray a more youthful person.—
Valerie Monroe,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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