hurt 1 of 3

Definition of hurtnext
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hurt

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adjective

hurt

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hurt distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurt are damage, harm, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When can damage be used instead of hurt?

Although the words damage and hurt have much in common, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than hurt?

The words harm and hurt can be used in similar contexts, but harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When could impair be used to replace hurt?

The words impair and hurt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When would injure be a good substitute for hurt?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurt, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When is mar a more appropriate choice than hurt?

While the synonyms mar and hurt are close in meaning, 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 hurt
Verb
Authorities said the marshals were responding to a call about a person threatening to kidnap and hurt someone while holding a gun. Gary Fields, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026 But was of now, his back really, really hurts. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Gen Z has seen the steepest decline in credit scores of any age group this year as student loans repayments, a tough job market, high inflation and fewer opportunities to build credit early hurt young borrowers, according to the inaugural FICO Score Credit Insights Report. Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025 But sub Tyrod Taylor is less than fit with a hurt knee. Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
Modern play calling insists on going for it on fourth downs, particularly in the opponent’s territory, because converting on fourth down helps more than failing to convert on fourth down hurts. Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026 Pine took advantage of Teddy’s obvious hurt to convince the young drug lord to turn on his father for good. Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 3 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurt
Verb
  • In the bitter New Hampshire night, my skull ached with tight, tectonic pressure.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Lenderman tackled the title track at Zootown Arts Community Center in Missoula, Montana, in October 2022, performing an aching 12-minute rendition.
    Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Overall, European leaders’ positive reception of Rubio’s speech reflected how horrifically damaged the transatlantic relationship has been by the past year of turmoil over Ukraine, and month of arson over Greenland.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Some of the fiercest storms in the South were reported near Lake Charles, Louisiana, where high winds from a thunderstorm overturned a horse trailer and a Mardi Gras float, damaged an airport jet bridge and flung the metal awning from a house into power lines.
    Dallas Morning News, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In December, another snowmobiler was badly injured in an avalanche at Latopie Lake in Mono County, and was airlifted for emergency services in Reno.
    Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • The three people injured were grandparents Linda and Gerald Dorgan, and a family friend Thomas Geruso, Goncalves said.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • While a celebratory mood spreads across the country, survivors of a deadly fire in Hong Kong are still grieving with little to celebrate, like this man who lost his wife in the blaze.
    CNN staff, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
  • One of the other cheer moms who spoke with Fox News Digital confirmed there had been tensions among some parents but said the focus now is on the children grieving.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Eyewitnesses said the injured visitors were pulled out from underneath the fallen tree.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Many firms also take over email and phone contact with insurers, so the injured person is not juggling calls between appointments.
    Matt Emma, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Other geese that were still alive were experiencing distress, Halter said.
    Joe Brandt, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • This bleeds into how damages are assessed in the aftermath of an accident, as everything from medical bills to lost wages and emotional distress are critical element that will be legally considered.
    William Jones, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The conviction last week closes a case that dates to December, when Hernandez was found guilty of two counts of child abuse likely to produce great bodily harm or death.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Experiences of affirmation too Speaking to multiple generations of students provides unique insight into the ways in which Black students continue to experience racial harm and trauma in Philly public schools.
    Leana Cabral, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Missing Barcelona pained Vowles and Williams as a whole.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • McNally is still pained by her death.
    Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurt. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

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