damage 1 of 2

Definition of damagenext
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2
as in fine
damages plural a sum of money to be paid as a punishment ordered by the court to pay $1000 in damages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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damage

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word damage distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of damage are harm, hurt, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When can harm be used instead of damage?

Although the words harm and damage have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

Where would hurt be a reasonable alternative to damage?

In some situations, the words hurt and damage are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When might impair be a better fit than damage?

The words impair and damage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When could injure be used to replace damage?

While the synonyms injure and damage are close in meaning, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

In what contexts can mar take the place of damage?

The words mar and damage can be used in similar contexts, but mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

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 damage
Noun
In an interview with SFGate published earlier this week, Donovan says he's been renting out the four-bedroom, three-bathroom property, which is also his childhood home, for years — and he's never seen damage done to the house like this until now. Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026 That particular outbreak, however, killed 51 people across the state and caused damage in 12 Arkansas counties, with the community of Heber Springs being the hardest hit. Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026
Verb
Those strikes heavily damaged the bases, burying most tunnel entrances under mountains of debris and shattering roads leading to the sites. Tamara Qiblawi, CNN Money, 31 May 2026 By the time rescuers arrived, her legs were so badly damaged that doctors had no choice but to amputate them. Tommy Trenchard, NPR, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damage
Noun
  • But according to many indigenous leaders in the community where the charity operates, its principal partner in the region is causing active harm.
    Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 27 May 2026
  • Gillie described his friend as an ardent supporter of free speech who would regularly espouse the right that everyone is entitled to their opinion free from harm.
    Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Noun
  • Each count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $10-million fine.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026
  • Penalties for exceeding the cap included fines or loss of draft picks.
    Maury Brown, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Cornier, who has received compensation from Novo Nordisk for serving as a consultant, echoed some of Banks’ concerns.
    Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
  • Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
    Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Removing barriers for non-traditional students like prohibitive costs or complicated admissions and financial aid processes is one way to improve access, said Lane, who helps create the commission’s enrollment reports.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Industry groups warned that capping emissions too much and too quickly would push refineries out of the state and drive up already soaring energy costs.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Star center Nathan MacKinnon was able to play in this game despite getting injured in Game 3.
    Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 27 May 2026
  • De Zerbi made fringe and injured members of the squad feel included.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • The Avalanche, however wounded, however shamed, however desperate, surely know better than to cross it.
    Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Along the front, small aerial systems and ground robots help identify targets, strike Russian assault groups, move supplies, and evacuate wounded while reducing the number of Ukrainian soldiers exposed in the kill zone.
    David A. Deptula, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • One of the two deceased victims was taken to a hospital for injuries and later died.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Three others were taken to a nearby hospital with undisclosed injuries, the DFR said in its statement.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • As the players linked arms as one by one — five of them were brave enough to take on the enormous pressure of these penalties — in the shadows was the 2-1 defeat by Barcelona in their only other Champions League final twenty years ago.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
  • Regulators are responding by increasing application costs and considering penalties for projects that reserve capacity without moving forward.
    Anna Broughel, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damage. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.

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