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
This article features language that may be hurtful to readers.
—
Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Fed up with the negativity, Hunter took to a Twitch stream to openly express his frustration and share how deeply the hurtful remarks have affected him.
—Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Other inner experiences may need to be filtered to avoid sharing information that is strategic or hurtful or confidential.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
One of them told my mother that her spiritual adviser said that turning down an invitation was insulting and hurtful and should never be done.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 31 May 2025
Fed up with the negativity, Hunter took to a Twitch stream to openly express his frustration and share how deeply the hurtful remarks have affected him.
—Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 May 2025
Other inner experiences may need to be filtered to avoid sharing information that is strategic or hurtful or confidential.
—Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025
One of them told my mother that her spiritual adviser said that turning down an invitation was insulting and hurtful and should never be done.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
Adjective
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Lights without these certifications may generate harmful byproducts, Taylor notes.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
12 June 2025
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McFarland is facing charges of solicitation of a minor, transmission of harmful material to a minor and violation of probation.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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The film—told through Fox’s home video recordings before and during his time in prison, and original footage—chronicled their family’s life during this painful period.—
Victoria Uwumarogie,
Essence,
16 June 2025
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In particular, three symptoms—vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and increased urinary tract infections, hot flashes, and sleep quality—often emerge as particularly severe for breast cancer patients.—
Chloe Castleberry,
Flow Space,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Of course, not getting The Notebook was far from detrimental, as Witherspoon became a leading romantic comedy actress and starred in Legally Blonde, Sweet Home Alabama, Vanity Fair, Walk the Line and Just Like Heaven — all from 2001 to 2005.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
1 June 2025
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This change is especially detrimental to the daughter’s character, forcing Łubik to spend most of her performance hysterically responding to her mother’s actions.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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And for every San Antonio, there is a Utah or Washington or Charlotte that can’t believe how cruel the lottery can be.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
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This is cruel, unnecessary, and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Similarly, the recent court decisions do not change our view that the most economically damaging tariff possibilities have become less likely.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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More than 50 million people from Mississippi to western New York are under a slight risk Monday of receiving damaging wind, large-sized hail, flash flooding and a few tornadoes.—
Kenton Gewecke,
ABC News,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
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Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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At times, the Algerian even operated as a wide forward as O’Neil grappled with a forward injury crisis and identified Ait-Nouri as his most dangerous attacking threat.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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Furthermore, is a reliance on new safety and driver assistance features potentially dangerous? Ford recall extends to over one million vehicles due to rearview camera issue Why are over a million Ford models included in NHTSA's recent recall notices?—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The consequences are both deeply personal and widely systemic: Women are more likely to be misdiagnosed, experience adverse drug reactions, and face delays in care.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Mifepristone is currently part of that program, though a wealth of research has shown that less than 0.5% of women who take it have serious adverse reactions.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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