COLLATERAL DAMAGE Synonyms: 18 Similar and Opposite Words

collateral damage

noun

Definition of collateral damage

as in fatality

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 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 Contemporary efforts at pest control have also caused unanticipated collateral damage. — Elan Abrell, The Conversation, 22 July 2026 The city's population has grown, meaning there are more people at risk from collateral damage. — Andrei Popoviciu, The Dial, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for collateral damage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for collateral damage

Noun

Just last year, the US reached a record high of such attacks, including its first fatality since 2022, according to a report published by the Anti-Defamation League.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
At least 24 people died in Manggarai regency and 17 in neighboring East Manggarai, with additional fatalities reported in Sikka, Ngada and Ende regencies, the National Disaster Management Agency said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of fatality

Noun

For Arsenal, the mission to create their best possible squad for depth and quality requires some upgrades in certain areas, and Berta won’t mind being ruthless if a sacrifice here leads to a new crowning there.

— Kaya Kaynak, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
The most common ritual practice is the giving of offerings to deities, although—in contrast to the ancient druids—the sacrifice of animals (or humans) is not practiced in modern Druidry.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of sacrifice

Noun

During the investigation, police were alerted to two shooting victims who had walked into area hospitals, including Chance.

— Adam Thompson, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Mines Minister Rufin Benam Beltoungou expressed condolences to victims’ families and warned miners about the dangers of unsafe mining practices, according to a statement posted by the ministry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of victim

Noun

Both fell into the water and caused no damage or casualties, the UAE said on Wednesday.

— Jenni Reid,Emma Graham, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
All strategic objectives in Iran are failing, while half-hearted support for Ukraine has resulted in a devastating surge in civilian casualties.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of casualty

Noun

This is because there is a tendency for some people to fall prey to cognitive offloading, in which humans lean heavily on AI to do their critical thinking.

— Cheryl Johnson, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Women and feminized men, in Finckenstein’s telling, were the natural prey and proof of Ebel’s corruption.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of prey

Noun

Finding the balance between preserving clubhouse culture and throwing future pieces into the fire remains complicated, even as the team dropped to 60-65 following Saturday’s 5-4 walk-off loss to the New York Mets.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Some of this can be attributed to a loss of trust in institutions, especially those tied to public health, thanks in part to the Covid-19 pandemic.

— T.M. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of loss

Noun

For months, many at City Hall had expected Raman to make a stink if she was yanked from her post, transforming herself into a martyr.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
In between Amos’s lines, In Times of Dragons is a saga of survival introducing different muses along the way, from a real-life ancestor, a martyr who fell in love with Jesus, and a group of rugged women.

— Tina Eves, SPIN, 13 July 2026

Definition of martyr

Browse Nearby Words

collateral

collateral damage

collateral damages

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Synonyms of collateral damage

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

august

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes