Synonyms of damage

damage 1 of 2

noun

ˈda-mij 

1

as in harm

something that causes loss or pain

the collision did a great deal of damage to her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harm
• injury
• detriment
• hurt
• insult
• wound
• injustice
• affliction
• impairment
• crippling
• disability
• scar
• beating
• affront
• offense
• mutilation
• wrong
• outrage
• lesion
• mayhem
• disfigurement
• bruise
• disservice
• indignity
• rupture
• abrasion
• swelling
• defacement
• burn
• dart
• scratch
• disablement
• contusion
• laceration
• strain
• gash
• concussion
• scald
• scrape
• bump
• sear
• scathe
• boo-boo
• cut
• chafe

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovery
• healing
• remedy
• cure
• fix

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

• fine
• penalty
• compensation
• reparations
• forfeiture
• forfeit
• mulct
• assessment
• indemnity
• award

3

as in compensation

damages plural payment to another for a loss or injury

the company was forced to pay millions in damages to the permanently disabled worker

Synonyms & Similar Words

• compensation
• reparation
• indemnity
• restitution
• redress
• indemnification
• reprisal(s)
• recompense
• satisfaction
• recoupment
• punitive damages
• remuneration
• reimbursement
• settlement
• adjustment
• punishment
• quittance
• atonement
• repayment
• refund
• requital
• retaliation
• amends
• solatium
• expiation

4

as in cost

the amount of money that is demanded as payment for something

he winced when he saw the damage after the family's shopping spree

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cost
• price
• fee
• rate
• freight
• price tag
• charge
• value
• market value
• bill
• sale
• ante
• reduction
• figure
• valuation
• list price
• tariff
• discount
• fair market value
• unit price
• service charge
• deduction
• deposit
• surcharge
• overcharge
• sticker price
• down payment
• price point
• asking price
• carrying charge
• invoice
• check
• tab
• markdown
• account

damage

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to injure

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply

Synonyms & Similar Words

• injure
• mar
• hurt
• compromise
• harm
• cripple
• impair
• weaken
• spoil
• break
• erode
• destroy
• flaw
• bloody
• ruin
• undermine
• disfigure
• cross (up)
• blemish
• wound
• deface
• vitiate
• deteriorate
• crab
• shatter
• endamage
• wreck
• batter
• demolish
• tarnish
• wear (away)
• blight
• enfeeble
• wash out
• dent
• devastate
• smash
• ding
• torture
• enervate
• scour
• waste
• botch
• crush
• torment
• lacerate
• gum (up)
• disable
• maim
• total
• mutilate
• wipe out
• tear down
• decimate
• annihilate
• hamstring
• desolate
• scourge
• mangle
• queer
• pulverize
• dint
• clobber
• dash
• raze
• lame
• bash
• do in
• bang up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repair
• rebuild
• patch
• fix
• reconstruct
• help
• heal
• cure
• mend
• renovate
• remedy
• revamp
• rectify
• rehabilitate
• improve
• recondition
• better
• enhance
• doctor
• revise
• edit
• perfect
• remodel
• ameliorate
• enrich
• refine
• meliorate

2

as in to wound

to cause bodily damage to

his knee was badly damaged in the accident, and he walked with a limp for months

Synonyms & Similar Words

• injure
• wound
• hurt
• harm
• bruise
• scar
• tear
• blow out
• torture
• bloody
• lacerate
• strain
• gore
• torment
• batter
• impair
• scald
• maim
• nick
• abuse
• cripple
• mutilate
• graze
• crease
• scathe
• gash
• afflict
• hamstring
• cut
• contuse
• lay up
• mangle
• mar
• scrape
• spoil
• lame
• aggrieve
• blemish
• maltreat

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fix
• heal
• cure
• remedy
• mend

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

Recent Examples of damage

Noun

Experts say mining projects within this buffer zone can cause environmental damage. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026

Getting equipment to the school to repair damage from the storm has also been difficult. — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

Her home was not damaged during the back-to-back hurricanes that hit Florida in 2024, but many people close to her experienced flooding and other destruction to their homes, businesses and schools. — Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

When videotape arrived, many predicted that watching movies at home would damage theatres. — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026