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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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
But it wasn’t made public until last week, when South Korean channel and CNN affiliate JTBC obtained the report and published its damning details. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026 Randau embarked on his own research, consulting archives in Germany, and history experts, to eventually uncover the physiotherapist’s SS membership card and other damning evidence. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
Despite damning evidence, the judge throws out the case and Thorne goes free. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026 Los Angeles Police Department Detective Corey Ferrel testified about damning text message communications Monday as Burke's week-long preliminary hearing neared an end, FOX 11 Los Angeles reported. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 28 July 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
  • The disastrous late-August flash flooding near Phantom Ranch struck below the burn scar left by that blaze, the National Weather Service said.
    — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The bill for the disastrous Leonard era now includes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — the reigning, two-time MVP — 10 first-round picks and two additional pick swaps.
    — Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of disastrous
Verb
  • Video that the teen lobster diver's family shared with ABC Miami affiliate WSVN allegedly shows Simpson swimming away from the third lung and back to the Contender vessel as people on Del Sol's boat began yelling and cursing at him.
    — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Obumseli chronicled their arguments in a series of recordings, which caught Clenney angrily screaming, berating and cursing him out using racist slurs.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Definition of cursing
Verb
  • House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) was blindsided on Tuesday when two members of his caucus voted with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to put a resolution denouncing socialism on the floor for a full vote.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And other Democrats, especially those from Coupang’s home state, Washington, have joined their Republican colleagues in denouncing South Korea’s posture toward the company.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of denouncing
Verb
  • In sentencing Kapoor to more than 11 years in prison, the judge sided with prosecutors, who recommended a sentence of 136 months.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Timothy is charged with murder — an offense that typically mandates a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole — therefore the judge is required to hold a Miller hearing before sentencing in the case.
    — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of sentencing
Adjective
  • That is the unfortunate part of a tenure full of expansion, media-rights billions and two transformational collective bargaining agreements.
    — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Moore and his allies are presenting gerrymandering as an unfortunate response to an acute political crisis, but trying to gerrymander Maryland in favor of Democrats is far from a new effort.
    — Colin Pascal, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfortunate
Verb
  • Vucic last week accused the West and The Hague tribunal of blaming only Serbs for the crimes and bringing no justice for the Serb victims.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Heaping credit onto Espada is dangerous, but so is blaming him for every game that goes awry.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of blaming
Verb
  • The commissioner formally apologized to players in 2024 for not sufficiently condemning, during an appearance on CNBC, hate speech around the league.
    — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Nearly 1,000 entertainment figures signed a letter condemning Ruffalo’s remarks, while more than 180 Jewish artists, writers and academics, including Joel Coen, Tony Kushner, Hannah Einbinder and Todd Haynes, signed a separate letter defending him.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of condemning
Adjective
  • Their defensive line flipped from fatal flaw to deep, disruptive chaos agent.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities have identified the victim and suspect in a recent fatal Rosemont shooting that led to a three-hour standoff with Sheriff’s Deputies.
    — Vince Basada, Sacbee.com, 7 Sep. 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 9 Sep. 2026.

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