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
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Recent Examples of damaging
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The National Weather Service office in the Philadelphia area warned on X that storms could produce damaging wind gusts and brief but intense downpours.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
Some of the cyanide also sprayed Canyon’s face, damaging his eyes.
—Ted Williams, Denver Post, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
Proponents of this view argue that such internal ideological enforcement can be as damaging to scientific credibility as external political interference and that focusing solely on right‑wing attacks obscures this parallel problem.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026
The National Weather Service office in the Philadelphia area warned on X that storms could produce damaging wind gusts and brief but intense downpours.
—Francie Ebert, NBC news, 11 June 2026
Verb
Dawn dish soap is typically a great option that can lift sweat and oils without damaging the material.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 12 June 2026
Some of the cyanide also sprayed Canyon’s face, damaging his eyes.
—Ted Williams, Denver Post, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
-
In the layer of the upper atmosphere called the stratosphere, the gas creates a protective layer that shields Earthlings from harmful ultraviolet rays.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
8 June 2026
-
The data center near Quindaro doesn’t have the capacity to be as harmful as the center out west, and the impacts of having a data center in Quindaro wouldn’t equate to the same health risks as having a coal plant did, Gorman said.—
Sofi Zeman
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
An alligator emerged from the water once Rivas entered it, attacking him and injuring both of his arms, state police and the sheriff's office said.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
This week massive strikes pummeling cities across Ukraine, killing at least 23 and injuring 150 more.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Earlier in the month, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s main airport, killing one person and wounding dozens.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
7 June 2026
-
Last week, Iranian drones heavily damaged a passenger terminal at Kuwait's main airport, killing one person and wounding dozens.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 June 2026
Adjective
-
Erdozain writes with a poet’s concision but a maximalist’s zeal, leaving no room in his historical account for any doubt that American exceptionalism has been a singularly detrimental force.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
-
The longer this pattern continues, the more likely that the detrimental effects can spread beyond cognitive health.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Use place mats or tablecloths on your kitchen table to keep food spills, condensation from drinks, and utensils from marring or staining the surface.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
29 May 2026
-
In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The uncertainty is not only rattling European allies worried about the message being sent to Russia, but also risks hurting morale among American troops -- some of whom had their rotations canceled shortly before departure -- and comes as the Army budget is already strained.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
-
Learning to coexist with these little animals sometimes is the best method, especially if any damage is minimal and not ultimately hurting your garden in a major way.—
Molly Burford,
Southern Living,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Yet oil futures have not skyrocketed to the dangerous levels forecasters feared — at least not yet.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
Financial watchdogs view telecoms acting as dangerous regulatory arbitrage, fearing that seamless digital wallets are a backdoor for capital flight.—
Tiisetso Motsoeneng,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
As complexities increase, that crossroads of simplicity and safety will continue to be a focal point — and tools like those created by CyberFOX will continue to stand out for maintaining ease of use, adaptability, and scalability, all without compromising on strong security.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
-
Bolter was determined to capture the nuances Adams, Bardem, Wilson, and the other actors were finding in their characters, even if that meant compromising his own lighting plan at times.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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