as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in injuring
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 wounding
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 damaging
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
White blood cells and inflammatory proteins were flooding into her backbone, damaging nerve fibers that carry electrical signals between brain and body.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
1 July 2026
Research shows that such bodily scrutiny is already damaging transgender youth and that bodily shame can significantly affect young people’s mental health, leading to disordered eating and other physical and psychological harm.
—
Megan Gandy,
The Conversation,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Adjective
That was huge, because Mary has had the realization that what was supposed to be a nurturing maternal force in her life had a damaging impact on her.
—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
30 June 2026
White blood cells and inflammatory proteins were flooding into her backbone, damaging nerve fibers that carry electrical signals between brain and body.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
Verb
However, the need for thorough cleaning must be balanced against the risk of damaging the actual bones.
—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
1 July 2026
Research shows that such bodily scrutiny is already damaging transgender youth and that bodily shame can significantly affect young people’s mental health, leading to disordered eating and other physical and psychological harm.
—
Megan Gandy,
The Conversation,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
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The plasma process also produced very little smoke or tar, reducing harmful secondary pollutants typically associated with biomass conversion and making the technology a cleaner way to produce renewable solid fuel.
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At the same time, its flowers attract beneficial predatory insects, such as ladybugs and parasitic wasps, that naturally hunt harmful garden pests.
Verb
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Some employees also owe their employers a deeper fiduciary duty, which one court has described as the duty to protect the employer’s interests and to avoid injuring the employer or depriving the employer of the employee’s skills.
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In May, a frightened horse rammed into another carriage, causing the vehicle to flip over, injuring the driver.
Verb
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The one-two punch wreaked massive destruction throughout the region, killing at least 235 and wounding more than 4,300.
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Manila, Philippines — Two students armed with hand guns opened fire in a high school in the central Philippines on Monday, killing three fellow students and wounding another seven, police said.
Adjective
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And beneath the surface of those turquoise waters, marine life continues on without knowing their life is colliding in detrimental-to-them ways.
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Substance abuse is greatly detrimental in its own right, of course, but sometimes the issues that stem from it—stress, emotional exhaustion, secrecy, avoidance—can have similarly devastating long-term effects on a person’s wellbeing.
Verb
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Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
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In Strasbourg, groups of Palace supporters clashed among themselves in a square in the city centre, marring the occasion.
Verb
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The triple whammy of the COVID-19 closures, inflation and technological disruption has left everyone hurting.
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Helpful or Hurtful Look at each item individually and determine whether each one is hurting or helping your overall organizational and decluttering goals.
Adjective
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Others develop dangerous fluctuations in blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms because the autonomic nervous system becomes affected.
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Sometimes, the streets appear glittering; other times, seedy and dangerous.
Verb
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Paired with the Arach&Cloz Crewneck Sweater and Cushionaire Weston Flats, this outfit has an air of sophistication without compromising its cool, casual comfort.
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Even professionals in their prime walked away rather than risk compromising their brains.
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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