1
as in penalty
a sum of money to be paid as a punishment
ordered by the court to pay $1000 in damages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in reparation
payment to another for a loss or injury
the company was forced to pay millions in damages to the permanently disabled worker
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in injures
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wounds
to cause bodily damage to
his knee was badly damaged in the accident, and he walked with a limp for months
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damages
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The family is seeking $50 million in damages.
—Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit asked for unspecified damages under Iowa's Consumer Fraud Act.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Moncur is seeking unspecified damages.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Notably, the settlement comes after IA previously lost a court fight with book publishers last year, where IA could've faced substantial damages.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Because the statutory maximum for an incident of copyright infringement is $150,000 per recording, the possible damages in the suit could have been as high as $621 million.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2025
The complaint, filed in San Francisco federal court in California on behalf of 17 people, including the Texas woman, accuses Uber of disability discrimination and seeks $125 million in damages.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Another listed $500 in damages and still another victim, $359 in damages.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
Dr. Melissa Weathersby, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In particular, a significant amount of rubble is visible in the streets of Jabalya and Sheikh Radwan, apparently caused by direct fire that damages the sides of buildings without appearing on satellite imagery.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
If the power outage is specific to your home, say a lightning strike damages your electrical system, things change.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2025
The pesky weed damages native biodiversity, threatens forest health and turns natural areas into monocultures.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Although rare, there is a risk of scarring with laser therapy, especially if the laser is not used properly and damages the deeper layers of your skin.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The condition damages the kidney's glomeruli, which can lead to end-stage renal failure if untreated.
—David Hampton, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Noun
The case, part of an ongoing lawfare effort in which local governments have been recruited to serve as plaintiffs, sought to hold the companies liable for damages the island suffered as a result of Hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico in 2017.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The family is seeking $50 million in damages.
—Veronica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2025
The lawsuit asked for unspecified damages under Iowa's Consumer Fraud Act.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
Moncur is seeking unspecified damages.
—Tony Saavedra, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
Notably, the settlement comes after IA previously lost a court fight with book publishers last year, where IA could've faced substantial damages.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 Sep. 2025
Because the statutory maximum for an incident of copyright infringement is $150,000 per recording, the possible damages in the suit could have been as high as $621 million.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2025
The complaint, filed in San Francisco federal court in California on behalf of 17 people, including the Texas woman, accuses Uber of disability discrimination and seeks $125 million in damages.
—Julia Marnin, Sacbee.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Another listed $500 in damages and still another victim, $359 in damages.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Chronic financial stress raises cortisol levels, which, over time, damages the immune system, increases risk for hypertension and heart disease and worsens mental health.
—Dr. Melissa Weathersby, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
In particular, a significant amount of rubble is visible in the streets of Jabalya and Sheikh Radwan, apparently caused by direct fire that damages the sides of buildings without appearing on satellite imagery.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
This interaction damages skin cells and can trigger irritation, redness, stinging or burning.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
If the power outage is specific to your home, say a lightning strike damages your electrical system, things change.
—Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Sep. 2025
The pesky weed damages native biodiversity, threatens forest health and turns natural areas into monocultures.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 28 Aug. 2025
Although rare, there is a risk of scarring with laser therapy, especially if the laser is not used properly and damages the deeper layers of your skin.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 27 Aug. 2025
The condition damages the kidney's glomeruli, which can lead to end-stage renal failure if untreated.
—David Hampton, Verywell Health, 27 Aug. 2025
Stringer/Sputnik via AP What To Know Broadly desecration of a flag refers to any action that damages or disrespects it—such as burning it, urinating or defecating on it, defacing it, stepping on it, damaging it with stones or bullets, cutting or ripping it and many others.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damages
Noun
-
While New York authorities brought murder charges against Mangione that don’t carry a potential death penalty, federal prosecutors have charged him with using a firearm to commit murder and are seeking the death penalty in their case.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Bringing a firearm through a checkpoint, even accidentally, can lead to criminal charges, civil penalties of up to $15,000 and the loss of TSA PreCheck eligibility.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Drawing from international human rights frameworks, theological ethics rooted in her Presbyterian tradition, and four historical case studies involving harm against AAPI communities, Kao examines both the moral and political dimensions of reparations.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Rupture is a prerequisite for reparation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Automobility directly or indirectly causes one in 34 deaths annually, injures more than 100 million people a year, and has killed as many people as the two World Wars combined.—
Henrietta Moore,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
-
If a dog that has not been officially declared dangerous severely injures or kills a person when unprovoked, authorities may confiscate the dog, and the dog’s owner is liable for the incident.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Set against Mumbai’s relentless pulse, their delicate connection faces tests as personal histories, desires, and wounds resurface.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
-
No policy wounds Tibetan dignity more profoundly than attempts to co-opt its spiritual and institutional heart.—
Tenzin Dorjee,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The minimum fine for infractions is $200, indicating that this is probably Clark’s first such offense this season.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
-
So all total, $55,066 in fines for Dallas’ receiver duo in Week 2.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Throughout Biglari’s numerous attempts to secure board seats at the chain, executives at Cracker Barrel have cited his executive compensation as proof of his ill intentions for the brand.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Extra compensation may be available for additional dependents.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Deadly holiday weekend mars broad crime drop The back-and-forth followed a Labor Day weekend of deadly violence in Chicago worse than in the previous two years, with seven people shot to death, according to preliminary Chicago Police Department reports.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Valuing a project at cost of production rather than value in an arm’s length sale—common in all economic statistics—especially mars Chinese data.—
Bill Conerly,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
What hurts me doesn't necessarily hurt another person with the same loss.—
Heather Straughter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Negative, mean or even well-intended but poorly delivered feedback always hurts.—
Susanne Biro,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damages. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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