damage 1 of 2

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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
Flood damage is almost never covered by traditional homeowners’ insurance policies, and your risk may be underestimated according to official government flood zone maps. Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025 Russell ended up landing head-first into the barriers, taking front wing damage, but avoiding a significant repair job for his engineers. Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
Reuters — Russia rained missiles and drones on Ukraine in a mass overnight attack, officials said on Sunday, killing at least five people and damaging civilian infrastructure including energy facilities across numerous regions. CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025 Spring pruning gives any new growth plenty of time to mature before cold weather, which can damage young growth. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damage
Noun
  • Originally, Ascher and Fraker were each charged with one count of failure to act to prevent bodily harm to a child, a felony that could have resulted in as much as six-year prison sentences.
    Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm.
    Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Yet leadership just issues fines and looks the other way.
    Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025
  • Judge Arun Subrahmanian also issued a fine of $500,000 on Combs - the maximum possible for his crime.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Without adequate stability, your shoulders lose their proper foundation and alignment, creating a cascade of compensations that lead to pain and increased injury risk.
    Dana Santas, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The necessary compensation, Atlanta’s disinterest in moving him and the amount of money the Bengals would need to take on with Cousins’ salary make this an unlikely scenario, even though Cousins would be the best football alternative.
    Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • People would be wise to consider the ever-increasing cost of homes in the area before selling their property due to immigration enforcement fears, Gonzalez said.
    Juan Cordoba, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
  • This is the cost of having been tortured in public.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police in England said one of the two Jewish community members killed and one of the victims injured during an attack at a synagogue on Yom Kippur are now believed to have been struck by police gunfire as officers tried to stop the attacker.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The kids associate helicopters with life flights to the local hospital, a sign that someone has been seriously injured, Cornelison said.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Also on Tuesday, a farmer in his 20s was attacked by a bear in the northern prefecture of Akita, days after a Spanish tourist was wounded by another animal while walking near a shuttle bus top at the Shirakawa Village, a popular destination in central Japan.
    Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Real healing isn’t about erasing what’s wounded.
    Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Florida, meanwhile, had an offensive explosion with 457 yards on a night when quarterback DJ Lagway and receiver Dallas Wilson — making his college debut after a foot injury sidelined the freshman prior to Saturday — showed off the upside the Gators have been waiting for.
    Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Church member Greg Mikat was shot three times, according to the GoFundMe his sister has organized, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest and remains hospitalized, after confronting the gunman.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Ahead of Game 2, with his college career on the brink and the Terriers down another key forward in Tomlinson due to a Game 1 penalty, Sullivan approached Parker.
    Peter Baugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Following their 7-0 preseason loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday — a game which featured 322 penalty minutes, 65 total penalties, and 16 player ejections — the Lightning were fined $100,000 and head coach Jon Cooper fined $25,000.
    Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damage. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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