as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damaging
Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
As the past and present collide, the Van Laars’ wealth and influence unravel, revealing the damaging consequences of privilege and the abuse of power.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
Winds are forecasted to be west to northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph, except damaging gusts up to 60 mph in the western portions of the Antelope Valley and relative humidity 10 to 20%.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
Too much water, however, can be equally damaging by leading to root rot and fungal issues.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
As the past and present collide, the Van Laars’ wealth and influence unravel, revealing the damaging consequences of privilege and the abuse of power.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Verb
The storms could be strong to severe, with damaging wind gusts being the primary hazard.
—Kansas City Star, 15 May 2026
Winds are forecasted to be west to northwest 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph, except damaging gusts up to 60 mph in the western portions of the Antelope Valley and relative humidity 10 to 20%.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
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The physical displacement drives the flow of CSF through the brain’s tissues, potentially carrying away harmful waste products.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
None of this makes AI harmful in itself.—
Jonathan Avery,
STAT,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The impact ignited an engine fire, injuring a dozen passengers.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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An 18-year-old woman accused of driving into a home and killing a North Texas mom and her 7-year-old son, and injuring a second child, has been arrested for a second time in connection with the crime.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Now, he is accused of killing Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew and gravely wounding another.—
Michael Tobin,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
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Prosecutors in Florida are investigating whether Open AI's Chat GPT helped a Florida State University student accused of killing two people and wounding several others after opening fire on campus last year.—
Megan De Mar,
CBS News,
5 May 2026
Adjective
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And the dejected diehard of a downtrodden franchise isn’t truly stuck in a one-sided detrimental relationship.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
11 May 2026
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That interpretation could suggest the mayor of the county’s second-largest city would be prohibited from passing legislation or speaking out against federal laws that may be detrimental to many Chula Vistans.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
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Four out of five Republicans say gas prices are hurting their budgets too, according to the same NPR/PBS/Marist poll.—
Catie Dull,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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Once your feet start hurting, everything else suffers.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Battista and Tucker are two of the most dangerous hitters in the state.—
Paul Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 May 2026
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If Iran gets away with charging any kind of toll or fee for passing through it, that principle is shot, and that is a dangerous thing.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Hethington didn’t want to cannibalize his menu with the dish, instead compromising with a jerk lamb shank, and a whole Chinese Trini chicken, an homage to the popular takeout food in Trinidad.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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Discussions on the formation of a board of trade, a mechanism to boost commerce in non-sensitive areas without compromising either side’s national security, will also move forward in an effort to solidify relations.—
Lee Williamson,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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