1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the most hurtful thing you can do to this silk dress is put it in the dryer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
her ex-husband said hurtful things that she could never forgive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hurtful
Domestic violence is a painful reality afflicting too many households in this country, which makes the words and actions of the current administration so egregious and hurtful.
—
Gwen Moore, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Their comments were indefensible, offensive, hurtful.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Burke, meanwhile, is no stranger to hurtful comments about her physical appearance.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Rumors, however, are reportedly still hurtful to Middleton.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Gwen Moore, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Their comments were indefensible, offensive, hurtful.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Burke, meanwhile, is no stranger to hurtful comments about her physical appearance.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Rumors, however, are reportedly still hurtful to Middleton.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
Adjective
-
Specialty cleaners made for glass cooktops don’t contain harmful ingredients like ammonia.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Small settings changes can make a big difference in reducing exposure to harmful or suggestive content.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Proper skin preparation is key to making your wax sessions less painful.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
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The high fevers, hospitalizations, and dehydration that these illnesses cause can be painful and disruptive—and, with vaccines, avoidable.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rat poison, in Saban-speak, is what is detrimental to teams that start believing their hype and losing focus on the controllables like working as hard as possible every day.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
3 Jan. 2026
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So did the first-round bye really prove to be that detrimental?—
Antonio Morales,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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That is unacceptably cruel, corrupt, and undemocratic.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Instead, she was stripped of her bronze medal after a late score inquiry—a ruling that still feels cruel for an athlete who had delivered the performance of her life.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Seven lawsuits filed this week in California allege that ordinary users seeking school help, spiritual reassurance, or simple conversation were instead drawn into psychologically damaging exchanges that ultimately preceded several suicides.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
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Vietnam is preparing for damaging winds, flooding, heavy rain and storm surges in its central provinces including Danang, Quang Ngai and Dak Lak.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There's a lot of harsh words and harsh things that get said about people.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Applying it at the base of the plant before the first frost can protect the roots from harsh cold and keep the soil from freezing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Pipes and sewers can be very dangerous for pets and wildlife and Roto-Rooter, with specialized equipment and personnel, has become a go-to call to save cats, dogs, turtles and more.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Jan. 2026
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Ole Miss has enough dangerous weapons in quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, running back Kewan Lacy and wide receivers Harrison Wallace III, De’Zhaun Stribling and Deuce Alexander to make a tired defense pay.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Because obesity will drive higher blood pressure, higher blood sugar, more adverse cholesterol levels—all sorts of things—that sort of becomes a perfect storm.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
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These weather conditions will result in elevated fire potential and a threat of adverse fire behavior.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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