damaging 1 of 2

adjective

ˈda-mi-jiŋ How to pronounce damaging (audio)
Definition of damagingnext
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damaging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of damage
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 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 damaging
Adjective
Forecasters say Friday's greatest severe weather threat stretches from the Mississippi Valley into the Ozarks, where storms could produce damaging winds, large hail and isolated tornadoes. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Positive lightning is more powerful and damaging than negative lightning. — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
Verb
All know that whatever promises are made, Iran can quickly disrupt the Strait and hit its neighbors with rockets and drones, damaging their oil facilities and water desalination plants. — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 The microscopic particles are small enough to pass through insect cell membranes and nuclear walls, damaging DNA and triggering an avoidance response. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
  1. harmful
  2. injuring
  3. wounding
  4. detrimental
  5. marring
  6. hurting
  7. dangerous
  8. compromising
Adjective
  • Several dietary supplements were recalled in July because of possible undeclared prescription drugs, harmful bacteria or allergens.
    — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The air district is warning residents that wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, adding that exposure is unhealthy, even for short periods of time.
    — Tim Fang, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmful
Verb
  • Last week, Tehran accused Kyiv of striking an Iranian commercial vessel carrying a cargo of iron, killing a seafarer and injuring three others.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Sami Zayn, who had recently lost the title, was visibly infuriated by Owens' unexpected return and victory, even injuring Owens' neck during the intense bout.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of injuring
Verb
  • Thai police shot and arrested a teenager who opened fire at a school in the south of the country in February, killing the principal and wounding two students.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • All of the missiles slipped past Ukrainian defenses, killing least 17 people and wounding dozens more.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of wounding
Adjective
  • The reduction in state investments and holding back promised funding to cover our faculty raises will have detrimental consequences to our institution, to us as students, and to the state’s future health care workforce.
    — Opinion, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This development was approved after years of environmental studies and reviews by multiple state regulatory agencies and the Pittsburg City Council that concluded that there was no detrimental impact on the environment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Verb
  • To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
    — Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Definition of marring
Verb
  • Inflation is still hurting many working families nationwide, but in metro areas like Seattle, the pain is even more acute.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • In 1983, the NBA faced a far more daunting future than the NCAA does now, with revenue gaps endangering teams and unchecked free agency hurting the game’s image.
    — Charles Grantham, Sportico.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurting
Adjective
  • Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nikolai’s identity as a dissident made remaining in the country dangerous.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Verb
  • The brief also argues that inclusive policies, such as those in California, provide important benefits without compromising the privacy or safety of other students.
    — Darrielle Fair, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Herloury-Rouget stresses that the economics behind Aroma-Zone have less to do with compromising quality and far more to do with eliminating unnecessary cost.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of compromising

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damages
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Cite this Entry

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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