Synonyms of harm

harm 1 of 2

noun

ˈhärm 

as in damage

something that causes loss or pain

you were lucky to survive the fire without harm

no harm in trying

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damage
• injury
• detriment
• hurt
• insult
• affront
• disservice
• injustice
• affliction
• impairment
• crippling
• wrong
• mutilation
• indignity
• disability
• mayhem
• outrage
• disfigurement
• wound
• beating
• dart
• lesion
• abrasion
• defacement
• rupture
• swelling
• offense
• burn
• disablement
• scar
• scratch
• bruise
• laceration
• contusion
• scald
• strain
• gash
• concussion
• scrape
• sear
• scathe
• bump
• boo-boo
• chafe
• cut

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovery
• healing
• remedy
• cure
• fix

harm

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to damage

to cause bodily damage to

though she wasn't harmed by the flying glass, she slipped and fell on a piece and cut her hand

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damage
• injure
• hurt
• wound
• bruise
• scar
• blow out
• tear
• bloody
• torture
• maim
• torment
• lacerate
• impair
• cripple
• afflict
• scald
• graze
• mutilate
• gore
• nick
• abuse
• batter
• scathe
• strain
• crease
• hamstring
• cut
• gash
• spoil
• contuse
• aggrieve
• mar
• lay up
• maltreat
• scrape
• mangle
• lame
• blemish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fix
• cure
• remedy
• heal
• mend

2

as in to injure

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of

the company's reputation has been harmed by allegations of crooked accounting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• damage
• injure
• mar
• hurt
• compromise
• cripple
• weaken
• impair
• spoil
• erode
• destroy
• break
• ruin
• flaw
• undermine
• disfigure
• cross (up)
• bloody
• vitiate
• deface
• blemish
• crab
• deteriorate
• wound
• shatter
• endamage
• tarnish
• batter
• wear (away)
• enfeeble
• wreck
• blight
• enervate
• devastate
• demolish
• wash out
• torture
• dent
• torment
• maim
• scour
• waste
• gum (up)
• ding
• annihilate
• smash
• botch
• mutilate
• disable
• crush
• wipe out
• decimate
• lacerate
• tear down
• hamstring
• total
• queer
• desolate
• dint
• scourge
• pulverize
• clobber
• mangle
• raze
• lame
• dash
• bash
• do in
• bang up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• repair
• help
• rebuild
• fix
• patch
• heal
• cure
• reconstruct
• remedy
• mend
• rectify
• renovate
• rehabilitate
• revamp
• improve
• better
• enhance
• recondition
• doctor
• perfect
• revise
• ameliorate
• enrich
• edit
• remodel
• refine
• meliorate

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

Recent Examples of harm

Noun

How plants poisonous to dogs cause harm Not all toxic plants affect dogs the same way, but many share similar chemicals that attack the digestive system. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026

The states highlighted the potential harm to moviegoing business by emphasizing wide-release film distribution. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Verb

The company also said on Monday that delaying the deal would harm entertainment workers. — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 14 July 2026

Overfertilizing can harm roots, while underfertilizing causes weak growth; always follow label instructions. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2026