harm 1 of 2

harm

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word harm distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of harm are damage, hurt, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When might damage be a better fit than harm?

While the synonyms damage and harm are close in meaning, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When is it sensible to use hurt instead of harm?

The words hurt and harm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When would impair be a good substitute for harm?

The meanings of impair and harm largely overlap; however, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

In what contexts can injure take the place of harm?

The words injure and harm can be used in similar contexts, but injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When can mar be used instead of harm?

While in some cases nearly identical to harm, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

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 harm
Noun
But Sutton’s ability to elevate in the red zone gives the quarterback a wider window, and Nix put the ball up high for Sutton to help keep it out of harm’s way. Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Lead poisoning has caused generations of preventable harm worldwide. Tom Frieden, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Tate has been accused of assaulting at least four 14 and 15-year-old boys, but police believe that there could be more victims and are encouraging parents to speak with their children to see if they were harmed. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 7 Oct. 2025 While beneficial, excessive use can harm your plants. Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harm
Noun
  • Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The observatory has faced tens of thousands of dollars in damages, Kaltenecker said, and lost gear and important plant life.
    Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police in England said one of the two Jewish community members killed and one of the victims injured during an attack at a synagogue on Yom Kippur are now believed to have been struck by police gunfire as officers tried to stop the attacker.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The kids associate helicopters with life flights to the local hospital, a sign that someone has been seriously injured, Cornelison said.
    John Wisely, Freep.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What little momentum the Broncos created was frequently marred by penalties, and a third-down sack had ruined a scoring chance in the first half.
    Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The show was marred only by an audio mix that dimmed Coleman’s evocative voice amid a wash of instruments — at least from this reviewer’s spot in the Fox — but the Red Clay Strays’ impact shone through nevertheless.
    Brian McCollum, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Florida, meanwhile, had an offensive explosion with 457 yards on a night when quarterback DJ Lagway and receiver Dallas Wilson — making his college debut after a foot injury sidelined the freshman prior to Saturday — showed off the upside the Gators have been waiting for.
    Grace Raynor, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Church member Greg Mikat was shot three times, according to the GoFundMe his sister has organized, sustaining injuries to his leg and chest and remains hospitalized, after confronting the gunman.
    Georgea Kovanis, Freep.com, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This ultimately hurts the American people, the people who pay their salaries.
    Nicole Russell, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
  • But the sale also diminishes some hopes that Berkshire would buy Oxy in its entirety, potentially hurting the stock.
    Jordan Blum, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Also on Tuesday, a farmer in his 20s was attacked by a bear in the northern prefecture of Akita, days after a Spanish tourist was wounded by another animal while walking near a shuttle bus top at the Shirakawa Village, a popular destination in central Japan.
    Yumi Asada, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Real healing isn’t about erasing what’s wounded.
    Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez, Time, 8 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harm. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on harm

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