1
as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
ordered by the court to pay $1000 in damages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in reparation
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
1
as in injures
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
2
as in wounds
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damages
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Her experience appears to be increasingly rare, as the Russian business newspaper Kommersant estimated in a report last week that just five days of outages caused 3 billion to 5 billion rubles ($37 million to $62 million) in damages to Moscow businesses.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
The College Republicans are asking a federal judge to declare the university’s action unconstitutional and award damages and legal fees.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Dondero is seeking a trial by jury and relief in the form of damages and attorneys fees.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
The claim seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and a further $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The plaintiffs are asking the court for damages for emotional distress and other harms caused by the images.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
Cipriani has been seeking $150 million in damages.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Goldie’s claim was for possession of the home, not being awarded financial damages.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Paralytic polio occurs when the virus damages motor neurons that control muscles.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Tornado damages Tulsa homes, school campus The damage from the Friday, March 6, storms extended across wide swaths of eastern Oklahoma, including north Tulsa.
—Richard Mize, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026
Kemerly was diagnosed with a liver disease in 2007 that slowly damages the liver.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
For example, if a hurricane destroys a school, a courthouse and 50 miles of roads in a city, FEMA will give the local government more money than if that same hurricane damages one building.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
Low level light therapy While research is still mounting, studies suggest that exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light can extend the growth phase of hair, reduce the inflammation that damages follicles and interferes with the growth cycle, and improve the density and thickness of hair.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Sharma noted that washing grapes damages their bloom, a powdery coating that forms naturally on some fruits, thereby increasing the likelihood of moisture loss and the entry of contaminants.
—Alma Avalle, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
The meatpacking giant also charges workers when someone takes or damages their personal protective equipment and insists on a three-year agreement, the union said.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Musk is seeking as much as $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft — a staggering amount, that if awarded, would be one of the largest verdicts in history.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
Her experience appears to be increasingly rare, as the Russian business newspaper Kommersant estimated in a report last week that just five days of outages caused 3 billion to 5 billion rubles ($37 million to $62 million) in damages to Moscow businesses.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 17 Mar. 2026
The College Republicans are asking a federal judge to declare the university’s action unconstitutional and award damages and legal fees.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
Dondero is seeking a trial by jury and relief in the form of damages and attorneys fees.
—Andrea Guzmán, Austin American Statesman, 16 Mar. 2026
The claim seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and a further $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
The plaintiffs are asking the court for damages for emotional distress and other harms caused by the images.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026
Cipriani has been seeking $150 million in damages.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Goldie’s claim was for possession of the home, not being awarded financial damages.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
This exposure damages the DNA in skin cells and can trigger changes that cause those cells to grow out of control and turn cancerous.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 18 Mar. 2026
Paralytic polio occurs when the virus damages motor neurons that control muscles.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Tornado damages Tulsa homes, school campus The damage from the Friday, March 6, storms extended across wide swaths of eastern Oklahoma, including north Tulsa.
—Richard Mize, Oklahoman, 7 Mar. 2026
Kemerly was diagnosed with a liver disease in 2007 that slowly damages the liver.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
For example, if a hurricane destroys a school, a courthouse and 50 miles of roads in a city, FEMA will give the local government more money than if that same hurricane damages one building.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 17 Feb. 2026
Low level light therapy While research is still mounting, studies suggest that exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light can extend the growth phase of hair, reduce the inflammation that damages follicles and interferes with the growth cycle, and improve the density and thickness of hair.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Sharma noted that washing grapes damages their bloom, a powdery coating that forms naturally on some fruits, thereby increasing the likelihood of moisture loss and the entry of contaminants.
—Alma Avalle, Bon Appetit Magazine, 13 Feb. 2026
The meatpacking giant also charges workers when someone takes or damages their personal protective equipment and insists on a three-year agreement, the union said.
—Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damages
Noun
-
The Red Wings got back in the game later in the period, aided by the B’s, who took two offensive zone penalties, first a trip by Kastelic and then a hook from Casey Mittelstadt (the second one was a bit ticky-tack).—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
-
If Doncic’s technical foul is not rescinded by the league, Doncic will have to serve a one-game suspension against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night – the penalty for accumulating 16 technical fouls.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That mirrors the world, where reparations for indigenous and enslaved people remain more of an intellectual argument far from an actual reality.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Questions of reparations are a fairly academic subject.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Pool drain seriously injures girl Paloma Quatrini was just days away from her fourth birthday when the accident happened at an upscale resort in Mexico.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When Don injures his hand, Blue (Hunter McVey) is forced to step into the competition for him.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Chops, gouges, wounds it like the shadow grooves on the sidewalks—the sun is setting earlier.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Imperfect fleshly reality occupies the stage, the region where bones crack and wounds suppurate, schlumpy humans fall for each other, and jealousy roams murderously free.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The result was a promise to get rid of a handful of concert venues and pay $280 million in fines.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
But the court refused to add civility requirements to the bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct, violations of which can be punished by fines, suspension and even disbarment.—
Bob Egelko,
San Francisco Chronicle,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But in this case, and in other similar instances in Pinecrest that Hase’s legal team identified, the village would not provide compensation.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
21 Mar. 2026
-
For now, even if 20% revenue sharing is less than the 40% the players first proposed, the deal represents a significant, stable increase in player compensation.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, an earnestness mars most of the proceedings.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The picture exudes both grace and vulnerability, and hints at imperfection by way of a disconcerting, coral-like wrinkle that mars the foot’s heel.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
20 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Your discerning side notices details others miss, so name what works and what hurts before proposing adjustments that would fix the latter.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Meester is pure unhinged mean girl personified as the Kaylinn of Gloria’s imagination, contextualizing every Insta post in the most outrageous extremities that only hurts her own sense of self.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damages. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.
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