Synonyms of damages

damages 1 of 2

noun

plural of damage

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

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

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

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

damages

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of damage

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

• injures
• mars
• hurts
• compromises
• cripples
• harms
• weakens
• impairs
• spoils
• breaks
• erodes
• flaws
• destroys
• disfigures
• crosses (up)
• undermines
• wounds
• vitiates
• blemishes
• defaces
• ruins
• bloodies
• crabs
• shatters
• deteriorates
• endamages
• wrecks
• batters
• demolishes
• enfeebles
• dents
• blights
• wears (away)
• tarnishes
• enervates
• tortures
• smashes
• washes out
• devastates
• dings
• maims
• torments
• scours
• lacerates
• disables
• botches
• crushes
• mutilates
• wastes
• gums (up)
• dints
• annihilates
• tears down
• wipes out
• desolates
• totals
• pulverizes
• lames
• razes
• decimates
• queers
• scourges
• mangles
• bashes
• dashes
• hamstrings
• clobbers
• bangs up
• does in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repairs
• doctors
• rebuilds
• fixes
• reconstructs
• reconditions
• heals
• remedies
• mends
• patches
• helps
• cures
• renovates
• revamps
• rehabilitates
• rectifies
• improves
• enhances
• edits
• revises
• remodels
• enriches
• ameliorates
• perfects
• refines
• betters
• meliorates

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

• injures
• wounds
• hurts
• bruises
• harms
• scars
• tears
• tortures
• blows out
• lacerates
• abuses
• maims
• creases
• torments
• cripples
• scalds
• mutilates
• grazes
• gores
• strains
• impairs
• nicks
• batters
• cuts
• afflicts
• gashes
• lames
• contuses
• bloodies
• scathes
• scrapes
• mangles
• maltreats
• hamstrings
• spoils
• aggrieves
• mars
• lays up
• blemishes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• heals
• fixes
• remedies
• cures
• mends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of damages

Noun

As part of his suit, Musk asked for $150 billion in damages that would be destined for a charitable trust and requested OpenAI’s for-profit structure be reversed. — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 July 2026

The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

The judge also awarded Biden $1 in nominal damages and ordered Byrne to pay nearly $35,000 in court sanctions. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 11 July 2026

At high doses, ionizing radiation damages DNA and causes cancer. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 10 July 2026

The government seeks a court order barring the company from carrying diversity, equity and inclusion policies, plus unspecified damages for the unnamed employee. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 July 2026

In the case of a willful failure to comply with the law, the company can be liable for actual or statutory damages and punitive damages. — Lew Sichelman, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. — ABC News, 10 July 2026

Teton Ridge seeks substantial damages arising from that conduct. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 July 2026

Verb

In some diseases such as frontal lobe dementia, which damages executive function instead of memory, tangles can accumulate without the presence of amyloid. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza wants to help make a difference for people who, like his mom, are living with multiple sclerosis, or MS, a chronic condition that attacks and damages the body’s nervous system. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 July 2026

Drought damages pasturelands, reduces the natural feed supply and restricts water access needed for raising livestock. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026

The article argues this move severely damages American soccer's integrity and global reputation. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Most notably, those who switched faced a 24% higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

Your Eyes High blood pressure also damages the sensitive back lining of the eye called the retina. — Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 23 June 2026

Dana Sue and Ronnie's strained relationship is exasperated by a fire that breaks out — accelerated by off-brand e-bikes Ronnie bought behind Dana Sue’s back and stored in their garage — and damages their house. — Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026

Roslovic’s poor playoff showing severely damages his chances of earning an extension with the Oilers for next season and of a sizable deal elsewhere. — Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 10 June 2026