as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in injuring
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 wounding
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
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Recent Examples of damaging
Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
How damaging is this for Barca?
—Pol Ballus, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Make sure to tumble dry on low to avoid damaging them or wearing them out too fast.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
This storm is capable of producing damaging winds and large hail.
—Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
How damaging is this for Barca?
—Pol Ballus, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Severe hail up to 2 1/2 inches in diameter, roughly the size of a tennis ball, and damaging winds up to 70 mph are possible across eastern Colorado, forecasters said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2025
Make sure to tumble dry on low to avoid damaging them or wearing them out too fast.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
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According to a five-pillar plan shared with CNBC, Cruz also aims to create federal standards for AI, prevent AI from being used in harmful ways such as scams, allow free speech and address ethical concerns.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Nonfiction narratives that students both read and produce serve as counter-narratives to the oppressive and harmful tropes in media more generally about Black girls and girlhood.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Colorado Springs club shooting A 22-year-old gunman entered an LGBTQ nightclub in November 2022 in Colorado Springs shortly before midnight and immediately opened fire, killing at least five people and injuring 25 others before patrons confronted and stopped him, police said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
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The suspect was indicted by a federal grand jury in July and is also accused of shooting and injuring another state lawmaker and his wife earlier the same day.—
Kinsey Crowley,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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A student who authorities say opened fire at his Colorado high school, wounding two classmates and then turning the gun on himself, has died, according to the local sheriff's office.—
Alex Stone,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Police say Reed then opened fire in the parking lot, killing Jones, wounding a 23-year-old Dallas man and also shooting at off-duty officers who were working at the business.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Research is also abundant on the long-term detrimental impact of childhood trauma on a person’s mental and physical health through their adult life.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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It can be gone in the blink of an eye, so to spend it on people that aren’t fulfilling me and to spend it on work that isn’t fulfilling me, to spend it on anything that isn’t fulfilling, is detrimental to him.—
Nicole Fell,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Boston comes in with three straight losses marring otherwise agreeable vibes.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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On the other hand, leaving rates too high could overly restrict spending and hiring, hurting the economy.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
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But the addition of so many people had the unwanted consequence of sending home prices in these markets through the roof, hurting locals' ability to buy.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Demonizing or attempting to eliminate those who think differently – literally or symbolically – has become a dangerous norm, which is all too evident in the wake of the Kirk shooting.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
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During volatile periods, this becomes especially dangerous because customer loyalty becomes more fragile and harder to rebuild.—
Talbott Roche,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Unit construction costs are estimated at $277,000, arriving at rents 40% below comparable market apartments, proving that pre-construction design work married with the right product with the right site can deliver lower cost without compromising investor yield.—
Jennifer Castenson,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Lovevook Laptop Tote Bag Looking stylish for work doesn’t have to mean compromising on function.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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