damage 1 of 2

Definition of damagenext
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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
Lipa is seeking a permanent injunction to block Samsung from further use of her image and likeness, as well as damages of no less than $15 million, punitive damages, attorneys’ fees and profits allegedly connected to the campaign. Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026 Not replacing your power strips increases the risk of electrical shocks, damage to your equipment, and electrical fires. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 16 May 2026
Verb
And by the time the leader's indecision gets associated with these types of negative outcomes, the leader's reputation is irreparably damaged. Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026 There are also the issues of Iran’s proxies in the region, who could also damage the cables. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damage
Noun
  • For a child facing daily harm, even a short delay can feel like an eternity.
    James R Mason, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
  • Several go-to cleaning tools and shortcuts — steam mops on the wrong floors, pressure washers used too aggressively, magic erasers on finished surfaces, harsh deck cleaners and neglected HVAC filters — can quietly do more harm than good.
    Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • The maximum penalty for the Class A misdemeanor is one year in the county jail and a $5,000 fine.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
  • Officials say current effort is not working City officials argue the current enforcement system has been ineffective because some businesses simply absorb fines as a cost of doing business.
    Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • Prosecutors reached an agreement with Boeing, requiring the company to invest an additional $1 billion in fines, family compensation and safety improvements.
    Rio Yamat, Fortune, 15 May 2026
  • Australia’s Yindjibarndi Ngurra Aboriginal people say a $107 million payout from a recent land title compensation ruling, which recognized damage to their cultural heritage sites, is not enough.
    Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • The heavy context makes Marseille a particularly forbidding environment for young players, which Ethan Nwaneri has discovered to his cost since arriving on loan from Arsenal in January.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • When the legislative session began earlier this year, Connecticut lawmakers pledged to focus on affordability and cost, seeking to keep the state on track as national economic uncertainty persists — and as a number of consumer costs, ranging from healthcare to energy, were on the rise.
    P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • The impact ignited an engine fire, injuring a dozen passengers.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
  • Even if Calafiori was not injured, Mosquera’s introduction and Rice’s return to midfield were necessary to start the second half.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Grainy video footage from those protests reveal the brutality of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, who drag students into the street, viciously beat them and then leave them wounded on the ground.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
  • Ukraine launched one of its largest drone barrages of the war, killing at least three people near Moscow and another in Belgorod and wounding a dozen more, officials said.
    Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • The 49ers were limited by a plethora of injuries in those games, but the Seahawks had an elite defense, regardless.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Following Parsons’ injury, the Packers lost five consective games to end their season.
    Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
Noun
  • Remarkably, their five league draws this season have resulted from equalising goals conceded in the 96th, 92nd, 94th, 97th and 88th minutes, the last three of which — against Paris FC, Strasbourg and Nice — were all penalties.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 17 May 2026
  • The company was hit with the maximum civil penalty of $5,000 per violation, totaling $375 million.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 17 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damage. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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