as in disastrous
bringing about ruin or misfortune
a damning flaw in the program cost the company millions of dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cursing
to use profane or obscene language at or about
damned the car for once again breaking down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denouncing
to declare to be morally wrong or evil
a heresy that was quickly damned by a hastily called church council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sentencing
to impose a judicial punishment on
damned him to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damning
Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The most damning similarity between Chalabi and Pahlavi is the legitimacy deficit.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
In contrast to the focus on glitzy, eye-catching purchases, the damning report notes astonishing delays to work on the Louvre’s security infrastructure.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damning
Adjective
Sunday staged the offense’s damning demerit.
—Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 13 Jan. 2026
The most damning similarity between Chalabi and Pahlavi is the legitimacy deficit.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
Although that conviction was overturned, the San Francisco Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada offered damning evidence in their book, Game of Shadows, that Bonds had deliberately sought out designer drugs that were undetectable by standard testing.
—Jeremy Collins, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
In contrast to the focus on glitzy, eye-catching purchases, the damning report notes astonishing delays to work on the Louvre’s security infrastructure.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damning
Adjective
-
The Chargers’ $262 million man fell to 0-3 in the playoffs, each of those defeats distinctly disastrous.—
Mirjam Swanson,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Purdy, rendered ineffective by a torn ligament in his right elbow on the opening drive against the Eagles in a disastrous NFC title game loss three seasons ago, completed all three passes for 74 yards and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Demarcus Robinson.—
Dan Gelston,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some made obscene gestures, and one held up a paper cursing the president.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Just tied them all together in about a five-minute reel of me cursing a blue streak.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Later in the day, after being criticized from some corners for not denouncing Hamas specifically, Mamdani went further.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Despite the 12-day Israeli war on Iran last summer, figures on all sides of the political spectrum came together in a rare show of unity, denouncing Israel for striking their country.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Jurors are faced with either sentencing Harrel Braddy, now 76, to life imprisonment or to die by lethal injection as Braddy’s resentencing trial wrapped up Thursday with closing arguments.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
29 Jan. 2026
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While judges are prohibited from commenting on cases in Texas, Juvenile Division Chief at the Harris County Public Defender's Office Steven Halpert reportedly weighed in on the sensitivity surrounding sentencing juvenile offenders.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In retrospect, the right move, Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, even with the unfortunate scheduling outcome.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Jan. 2026
-
But Bloom’s legacy has had the unfortunate effect of making even more reasonable canon defenses look reactionary.—
Colton Valentine,
New Yorker,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Casey Higgins, however, said Price is ultimately responsible for disclosing conflicts of interest and argued blaming his subordinates was not a defense to corruption charges.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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However, your friends are blaming you for asking valid questions of someone who is mishandling funds and directly impacting your quality of life.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Oscar-winning singer-actress took a break during her Tokyo concert to spend a few minutes condemning ICE following the controversial deaths of two protesters at the hands of the immigration enforcement agents.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Jan. 2026
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Local officials in Minneapolis were united in defending Omar and condemning the attacker.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer earlier this month proved to Carlson and other Minnesotans that the potential for danger as an observer was not abstract.—
Michael Williams,
CNN Money,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Noem has been under increasing scrutiny following Saturday’s fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by federal authorities in Minneapolis.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Damning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damning. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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