damning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈda-miŋ How to pronounce damning (audio)
Definition of damningnext
as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune a damning flaw in the program cost the company millions of dollars

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of damn
1
as in cursing
to use profane or obscene language at or about damned the car for once again breaking down

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2
as in denouncing
to declare to be morally wrong or evil a heresy that was quickly damned by a hastily called church council

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sentencing
to impose a judicial punishment on damned him to life in prison without the possibility of parole

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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 damning
Adjective
Undeterred, the press has continued to publish damning reports about his chaotic management of the Pentagon at home and the US military’s disastrous conduct overseas. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026 And, perhaps the most damning evidence was the information provided by Douglas Heim, who alleged that Heck approached him at a bowling alley shortly after killing Kahler and recruited him to help move and bury her body. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
One damning part of the plan involved a potential future role for Infantino in the investment fund. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Despite damning evidence, the judge throws out the case and Thorne goes free. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damning
  1. disastrous
  2. cursing
  3. denouncing
  4. sentencing
  5. unfortunate
  6. blaming
  7. condemning
  8. fatal
Adjective
  • Prolonged pump stoppages could lead to a disastrous local scenario of ruptured water supply, district heating, and sewage pipes, even if electricity remains available elsewhere in the country.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, the Royals are sitting at home after a disastrous 69-93 campaign.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Verb
  • And, in a representative bid of concern, the coaches are cursing in their news conferences.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The drunk-and-disorderly charge is linked to a December incident, in which Minton is accused of shouting and cursing at patrons of a tattoo studio in Hickory, court records show.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of cursing
Verb
  • But critics, like the Civic Federation, are denouncing the budget plan, calling it an unacceptable abdication of responsibility to meet the fiscal realities facing the city.
    — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • What began with peaceful protests by high school students demanding better conditions at schools has morphed into roiling protests nationwide denouncing rising living costs and inequities in French society.
    — Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of denouncing
Verb
  • Cipparone also noted that the federal judge seemed to take Smith's apology as sincere, sentencing him to less time than what prosecutors recommended.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Such a motion can allow prosecutors to request a sentence reduction after sentencing based on a defendant’s assistance to investigators.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of sentencing
Adjective
  • Neighbors shocked about stabbing Neighbors say Thomas was known to have mental health issues and called the stabbing unfortunate.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • To make matters worse, India’s Supreme Court, another vital democratic institution, has also played an unfortunate role in this train of events.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Verb
  • The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the shift, a claim that was bolstered by statements from Marco Rubio and Pete Hegseth blaming Musk’s SpaceX for any change.
    — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner earlier in October said that Lewis was acquitted in a previous murder case, blaming police misconduct for the outcome.
    — Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • López’s murder sparked global outcry, with Pope Francis, the United Nations and the human rights arm of the Organization of American States condemning the incident and calling for an independent investigation.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Acton spent Tuesday condemning Ramaswamy for the ad even before his campaign confirmed its provenance.
    — Julie Carr Smyth, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of condemning
Adjective
  • Another e-bike rider died over the weekend in Huntington Beach, marking the second fatal incident involving an e-bike in the coastal city in months.
    — Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Presley, Crawford’s son and Kaia’s older brother, died of a fatal overdose inside a rehab facility after years of struggling with addiction and his mental health.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of fatal

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Cite this Entry

“Damning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damning. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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