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collateral damage

noun

Definition of collateral damagenext
as in fatality

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collateral damage In this grim status quo, a certain amount of grief becomes collateral damage. — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 6 Aug. 2026 But in the fallout of Lively’s contentious legal battle with Justin Baldoni, there has been some notable collateral damage. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 Too often a car crash involves collateral damage to other vehicles or bystanders. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026 The collateral damage of Catherine’s quest can be devastating. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collateral damage
  1. fatality
  2. sacrifice
  3. victim
  4. casualty
  5. prey
  6. loss
  7. martyr
Noun
  • The proper accounting of military fatalities has implications beyond public transparency.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The classification covers incidents involving aircraft destruction, fatalities, or qualifying damage exceeding $2 million.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of fatality
Noun
  • That is why strengthening survivor support should be part of how the nation honors their immeasurable sacrifices.
    — Cristina Johnson, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Kaepernick’s contribution to the fight for equality certainly involved sacrifice.
    — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of sacrifice
Noun
  • The studies with these conclusions have not held up over time and may be victims of publication bias.
    — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Ventura was not truly a victim and deserved to face consequences alongside Combs.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of victim
Noun
  • When a relationship ends, language is as much of a casualty as love.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The transfer of 2,000-pound bombs had been paused by the Biden administration over concerns about the possibility of mass casualties.
    — Matthew Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of casualty
Noun
  • Threats facing the species include habitat loss, declining prey populations and human-wildlife conflict.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Over Labor Day weekend, Springfield Public Schools, a district in western Massachusetts that serves twenty-three thousand students across some sixty schools, fell prey to a cyberattack that shuttered classes for four days.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of prey
Noun
  • Laura Steinberg, a volunteer for the last 10 years, said the loss of performances has already been heart- wrenching.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The miscues and lack of execution affected all phases of the game during their 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of loss
Noun
  • The 100th annual festival celebrates the life of San Gennaro, who was the Bishop of Benevento, Italy, and a martyr and saint of the Catholic Church.
    — Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Today, millions more people know about his stance on this issue and, thanks to Kraft, many see him as a martyr for a cause.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of martyr

Browse Nearby Words

collateral
collateral damage
collateral damages
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Cite this Entry

“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collateral%20damage. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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