1
as in damaging
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in injuring
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the company's reputation has been harmed by allegations of crooked accounting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of harming
In both countries, polluted rivers have contributed to declining fish stocks and livestock illnesses, harming households that are already struggling to feed themselves.
—
Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Last year, the governor and legislators also put forth two separate proposals, each with a different philosophy for how to prevent private equity investors from harming Connecticut hospitals.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Use of herbicides requires caution to avoid harming desirable plants and ensure the safety of yourself and others.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The state’s population is projected to balloon further with even more residential sprawl and water demands, while harming its environment and natural lands.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The issue has broad effects, affecting not just the victim but families, co-workers and community while harming mental and physical health, causing decreased productivity and decreasing one’s quality of life.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Social-justice education is harming the very students it was meant to help.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The development raises questions about whether this kind of technology could someday learn not only to help humans, but to also become capable of harming them.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Lewis says that vinegar is one of the safest, most effective options for any type of buildup that helps break down mineral deposits and mild stains without harming your plumbing.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Abraham Nunbogu, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Last year, the governor and legislators also put forth two separate proposals, each with a different philosophy for how to prevent private equity investors from harming Connecticut hospitals.
—Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 26 Apr. 2026
Use of herbicides requires caution to avoid harming desirable plants and ensure the safety of yourself and others.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2026
The state’s population is projected to balloon further with even more residential sprawl and water demands, while harming its environment and natural lands.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026
The issue has broad effects, affecting not just the victim but families, co-workers and community while harming mental and physical health, causing decreased productivity and decreasing one’s quality of life.
—Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Social-justice education is harming the very students it was meant to help.
—Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The development raises questions about whether this kind of technology could someday learn not only to help humans, but to also become capable of harming them.
—Katia Riddle, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Lewis says that vinegar is one of the safest, most effective options for any type of buildup that helps break down mineral deposits and mild stains without harming your plumbing.
—Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 24 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harming
Verb
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Besides their obvious beauty, wicker baskets are superior for storage (especially laundry), providing excellent ventilation that prevents mold and mildew from damaging your linens.—
Ashley Poskin,
Martha Stewart,
2 May 2026
-
Baking soda has a mild, yet abrasive texture that can lift out stains causing your tiles to look dull without damaging the surface.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Based on preliminary data from the CHP’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, more than 110,000 crashes resulted from unsafe speeds, leading to more than 400 deaths and injuring more than 68,000 people, the agency said.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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As Sousa-Martins drove forward, another agent shot at him 13 times, injuring Sousa-Martins as well as Solomon Antonio Serrano-Esquivel, a passenger in one of the ICE vehicles who was already in federal custody.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Farmers are hurting, and every American has a stake in their future.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Yet some analysts say the loss of a full-fledged airline, especially a budget one like Spirit, would also end up hurting consumers — not to mention its approximately 17,000 employees.—
Jay Blackman,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The teen had the gun the shooter used on Monday and is also being charged for shooting and wounding the same victim back in February.—
Kerry Burke,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2026
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Franqui’s younger brother, also named Edwin Franqui, had been driving a vehicle from which the older Edwin Franqui, the defendant in the case, fired gunshots toward another vehicle, killing its driver and wounding a passenger, court records show.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rampart’s damage-tolerant design and payload flexibility are intended to support operations where aircraft may be lost without compromising overall mission effectiveness.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Apr. 2026
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As shoe trends have changed over the years, wearing sneakers has emerged as the best option for comfort without compromising style.—
Ruhama Wolle,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Dunn said Black domestic workers were often forced to work longer on election days by their white families, weakening their chances of casting a ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
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If next week’s jobs report shows a still resilient labor market, that could relieve investors wary of a weakening economic outlook.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harming. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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