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
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 damages
Dave Lieber
feb. 25, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Court filings reviewed by CBS News said total damages eclipsed $3 million.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit seeks the repayment of those damages.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The court, in a 5-4 opinion, said the immunity Congress gave the Postal Service from lawsuits seeking monetary damages covers acts alleged to be intentional.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
The cutting-edge technology replicates an authentic vintage look while opening up limitless creative possibilities—from natural 3D textures and effects to custom damages, lettering, and imagery.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
The suit asks a judge to force UCLA to enforce its own anti-discrimination policies and to award damages to Jewish employees at UCLA who faced a hostile work environment.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The complaint does not list a specific dollar amount the city is seeking in damages.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
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
To explore that possibility, researchers at University College London and Queen Square Analytics set out to look beyond symptoms and clinical labels and focus instead on the biological signals of how MS damages the brain.
—New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Not seeing us at all — as parents, neighbors, teachers, leads, lovers, screw‑ups, dreamers — damages us.
—Gloria Calderon Kellett, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Incarceration also damages young people’s future success in education and employment.
—Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
The progressive disease damages the protective cover around nerves called myelin in your central nervous system, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
Then came the number that echoed loudest—another $1 million in exemplary damages, which is due usually for some type of bad behavior.
—Dave Lieber
feb. 25, Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
Court filings reviewed by CBS News said total damages eclipsed $3 million.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
The lawsuit seeks the repayment of those damages.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
The court, in a 5-4 opinion, said the immunity Congress gave the Postal Service from lawsuits seeking monetary damages covers acts alleged to be intentional.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
The cutting-edge technology replicates an authentic vintage look while opening up limitless creative possibilities—from natural 3D textures and effects to custom damages, lettering, and imagery.
—Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 24 Feb. 2026
The suit asks a judge to force UCLA to enforce its own anti-discrimination policies and to award damages to Jewish employees at UCLA who faced a hostile work environment.
—ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
The complaint does not list a specific dollar amount the city is seeking in damages.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
—City News Service, Daily News, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
To explore that possibility, researchers at University College London and Queen Square Analytics set out to look beyond symptoms and clinical labels and focus instead on the biological signals of how MS damages the brain.
—New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2026
Not seeing us at all — as parents, neighbors, teachers, leads, lovers, screw‑ups, dreamers — damages us.
—Gloria Calderon Kellett, Deadline, 29 Jan. 2026
Incarceration also damages young people’s future success in education and employment.
—Katie Mulvaney, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
The progressive disease damages the protective cover around nerves called myelin in your central nervous system, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damages
Noun
-
The posts often link to unofficial preparation services that collect your personal information — or encourage filing claims that can trigger audits and penalties.—
Ken Colburn,
AZCentral.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The Patriots advanced to the final by winning a penalty-kick shootout against Fort Walton Beach 2-1 (4-3 PKs), with junior goalie Alex Vanhaeren saved two PKs.—
Gary Curreri,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Even so, Newsom couldn’t help but veer left on racial politics, getting himself into hot water for stoking talk of slavery reparations in California, then having to spin his way out of it by saying reparations are about more than just dollars and cents when some monetary estimates came up.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Sticking points include claims over territory, reparations and security guarantees.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Don injures his hand, Blue (Hunter McVey) is forced to step into the competition for him.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Bystander videos, like the ones taken of Pretti, have played a key role for decades in informing the public when law enforcement kills or injures people.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What once killed campaigns now barely wounds them.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Even with all of them in place, Shirley misses the masked attacker sneaking his way up to the apartment door, and Lamb’s attempt to blind him with bleach creates a chaotic struggle that wounds the assailant without containing him.—
Scott Tobias,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Iranian federation also would face disciplinary fines from FIFA — at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($321,000) for withdrawing up to 3 days before the tournament, and at least 500,000 Swiss francs ($642,000) if the decision is in the last month before kickoff.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The Iranian federation also would face disciplinary fines from FIFA — at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($321,000) for withdrawing up to 30 days before the tournament, and at least 500,000 Swiss francs ($642,000) if the decision is in the last month before kickoff.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The likes of Roberto De Zerbi and Xavi are out of work, and the USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino will be out of contract by the summer, so compensation to clubs or countries would also not be due.—
Ian Irving,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Cities in decent financial health customarily don’t float bonds to cover operational expenses such as legal settlements and compensation for workers.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Okay, that last one hurts, especially knowing how much Violet likes Sophie already.—
Christina Grace Tucker,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The two Wyatts blend their country and Red Dirt inspirations on this sweeping song about heartbreak and hurts that still simmer.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damages. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
