DAMAGE Synonyms: 222 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

damage 1 of 2

noun

ˈda-mij

Definition of damage next

as in harm

something that causes loss or pain the collision did a great deal of damage to her car

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

damage

2 of 2

verb

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

How is the word damage distinct from other similar verbs?

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

Authorities have not explained if there was an interception or damage at the airport, which is the world’s busiest for international travel. —

ABC News, 7 Mar. 2026 Oklahoma Gas and Electric reported some damage to their equipment, which caused an outage for 150 people in Nash, Oklahoma. —

Josh Kelly, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026

Verb

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said about 10,000 civilian structures across the country had been damaged, including homes, schools and almost three dozen health facilities. —

Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026 Also for the first time in the Gulf - a desalination plant in Bahrain was damaged in an Iranian drone attack. —

Npr Staff, NPR, 8 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damage

Recent Examples of Synonyms for damage

Noun

In his Monday order, Simon limited federal agents from using chemical or projectile munitions such as pepper balls and tear gas unless someone poses an imminent threat of physical harm.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Mar. 2026
The agency has warned that there is a one-in-4,200 risk of harm to people as a result of potential debris.

— Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 10 Mar. 2026

Definition of harm

Browse Nearby Words

dam

damage

damaged

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damage. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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Last Updated: 11 Mar 2026 - Updated example sentences

Synonyms of damage

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