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
Brandi D. Addison, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Thus, in a war of attrition, the drones could be used by Tehran to wear down air defenses, opening them up to more damaging attacks, analysts say.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026
These conditions reinforce one another over time, quietly damaging blood vessels and organs long before a heart attack or kidney failure occurs.
—Jia Shen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
Iowa faces a heightened risk for severe storms, including large hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes.
—Brandi D. Addison, Des Moines Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Thus, in a war of attrition, the drones could be used by Tehran to wear down air defenses, opening them up to more damaging attacks, analysts say.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Would police intervene if excessive force was used or if an agent was damaging private property?
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Feb. 2026
These conditions reinforce one another over time, quietly damaging blood vessels and organs long before a heart attack or kidney failure occurs.
—Jia Shen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
-
The analysis, which included 55 studies encompassing more than a half-million people, found that those who had a spiritual belief or religious practice were less likely to have a harmful relationship with alcohol, drugs or cigarettes.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But after the harmful pesticide, which negatively affects reproduction rates in birds, was banned in 1972, conservation efforts have helped the peregrine falcon rebound.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Over the course of just one minute, the gunman sailed down the city’s bustling Sixth Street and then exited his car, firing off even more bullets, ultimately killing three people and injuring 13 others before he was fatally shot by police.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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In Skokie, an Iranian-American can’t get through to communicate with his father in Iran after a bomb fell in the father’s neighborhood, injuring him.—
Claire Murphy,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Armed with a pistol and a rifle, a man opened fire from outside the venue on the city’s bustling Sixth Street, killing two people and wounding 14 others, according to the Austin Police Department and the FBI’s San Antonio Division.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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Iranian state media said at least 200 people were killed in the country, while Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and allies in the Middle East, killing at least six people in Israel and one in Abu Dhabi, and wounding dozens more.—
Caroline Linton,
CBS News,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, experts say this method can have detrimental (even near-disastrous) results.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Experts on family homelessness have been at pains to show over the last several years that all of these circumstances, the hotels, the cars, doubled up with others, can be just as detrimental to people’s mental and physical health as being on the street.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Stocks had a rough session Friday on the worries about AI hurting the economy that have been dogging the market for weeks.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Better to clear the air, and establish better communication for next time, than to break up hurting.—
Eric Thomas,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Standard sensors like cameras and lidar often fail in heavy rain, thick fog, or low light, creating dangerous blind spots.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Mar. 2026
-
But, even a light glaze can be highly dangerous when driving.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Well, at least Ben is aware that his department’s lateness is compromising the performance of the entire boat.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of compromising one property to improve the other, the layered architecture allows both to coexist.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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