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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
Preventing harm to children is a goal with which most people would agree. Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 20 June 2025 How effective are the measures, especially in the places the bags do the greatest harm—along the coasts? Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 19 June 2025
Verb
Below the surface hide tentacles that can stretch up to 100 feet, filled with venom, trapping and paralyzing small fish, and occasionally harming humans. Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2025 American Pilots Are Backing Israel’s Drone Defense, Netanyahu Says New Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 Upgrade Now Makes Sense The turn towards high-deductible health plans has harmed Americans financially and medically. Peter Ubel, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for harm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harm
Noun
  • Iranian state media confirmed that Israeli warplanes had struck nuclear facilities at Arak but said that there had been no serious damage.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2025
  • The Supreme Court on Friday upheld a law allowing Americans injured by acts of terror in the Middle East to take Palestinian leadership groups to U.S. courts for damages.
    Ella Lee, The Hill, 20 June 2025
Verb
  • The conflict entered its seventh day on Thursday, with Iran launching a strike that hit a major hospital in Israel, injuring at least 240 people and causing extensive damage.
    Sonam Sheth, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025
  • Miguel Tapia Velázquez was critically injured in a shooting early Saturday morning in Fort Worth, according to police.
    Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2025
Verb
  • They were marred by injuries throughout the season, having entered the season with somewhat high expectations.
    Ricardo Klein, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
  • Once a peaceful area for walking and cycling, it’s now marred by dilapidated vehicles, trash and environmental hazards — posing serious health and safety concerns.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025
Noun
  • The injury happened with 4:55 left in the first quarter.
    Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
  • All that bumping and bruising puts her at a higher risk of injury and exhaustion.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 22 June 2025
Verb
  • This would hurt even the most polished comedy or the most clockwork heist movie, let alone one that hopes to be both.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 26 June 2025
  • One of our stunt guys broke a finger or hurt himself on a spinout.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Two people were wounded in another Ukrainian drone attack on the city of Bryansk in western Russia, regional Gov. Alexander Bogomaz said Sunday morning, adding that seven more Ukrainian drones had been shot down over the region.
    Volodymyr Yurchuk, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
  • Six people were wounded in Cherkasy, including a child, regional Gov. Ihor Taburets said.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harm. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on harm

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