collateral damage

Definition of collateral damagenext

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 Morris, 16-18 in two seasons, might have been collateral damage for an organization looking to start fresh with both roles in sync. Mike Sando, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026 Unfortunately, those efforts result in major collateral damage. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026 Strategic promise and unresolved risks Pathak has repeatedly emphasized that humanoid robots could reduce reliance on airstrikes or heavy weapons by enabling precise, ground-level interventions, potentially lowering collateral damage. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025 The rot that ensues — of minds, culture and institutions — is but collateral damage. Michael Moyer, Quanta Magazine, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collateral damage
Noun
  • In contrast to the surge in opioid fatality numbers of the past decade, deaths attributable to cocaine have shown little increase.
    Charles LeBaron, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The Wyoming fatality follows a deadly avalanche Friday in the mountains of northern Kittitas County, Washington, near Longs Pass, where four backcountry snowmobilers were caught.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Most front offices don’t favor such things as sacrifices or steals.
    Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Child care providers frequently make personal sacrifices to run their businesses, often putting in long days, enlisting family members to work unpaid or forgoing adequate pay and benefits, such as time off for themselves.
    Kristen Taketa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The parents of the victims said the boys met Busfield on the set of the Fox series, The Cleaning Lady, after Busfield joined as a director in season 2, according to the arrest warrant.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Orange County has appropriated nearly $500 million to cover possible payouts to victims of the fire, and as of August had paid more than $39 million in settlements so far.
    Claire Wang, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The premiere picked up 10 months after the events of Season 1, during which a mass casualty event unfolded in the final episodes.
    Alli Rosenbloom, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The hypersonic Oreshnik intermediate range ballistic missile hit Ukraine’s western Lviv region late Thursday night, although officials there did not mention any casualties.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Before a victim falls prey to a scam, they are often duped in a quick, emotional, panic-inducing way.
    Caroline Melear, Oc Register, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Advertisement The show also falls prey to a few unfortunate streaming-era trends, from a penultimate flashback episode that delays the payoff of a cliffhanger by filling in backstory of questionable utility, to a scantness of plot that makes the whole short season feel like an overgrown prologue.
    Judy Berman, Time, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • But those guards fell crashing down on Wednesday night in a brutally honest assessment of his team following Boise State’s (9-6, 1-3 Mountain West) 75-58 home loss to Grand Canyon (9-5, 2-1) at ExtraMile Arena.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Despite the losses, Damon traveled to Texas and won the national title, dedicating the victory to his family and supporters.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This new Evangelicalism may be exemplified by Charlie Kirk, whose murder transformed the Turning Point head into an instant martyr and sparked calls for a traditionalist revival.
    Sam Kestenbaum, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
  • Kali grabs a gun, which doesn't make matters any better, but Hopper is insistent that El promise not to be a martyr.
    Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collateral%20damage. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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