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
Relevance
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
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 harming
Court records show in the last year, numerous other members of 764 and similar groups have been charged with exploiting and harming minors.
—
Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
The following month, she was arrested on a felony charge of harming her child or placing her at risk.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
This study, put together by Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, shows almost a third of pregnant people worry about harming their baby through exercise, and 24% feel unsure about what’s actually safe.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
In particular, many are now studying the broader role of systemic inflammation and the gut–brain axis' role in harming the brain.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
Hot water and soap, followed by a vinegar rinse, can provide peace of mind without harming the surface.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
These workers are responsible for clearing popular ski routes by using handheld explosives to prevent avalanches from harming guests.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
At a time when Florida’s educator retention problem is harming students statewide, inaction is a choice that maintains a failing status quo.
—Andrew Spar, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
The animal cruelty charge reportedly stemmed from Revuckas also allegedly harming Morales’ dog, who attempted to protect her during the attack, according to WGN.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Curt Devine, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
The following month, she was arrested on a felony charge of harming her child or placing her at risk.
—Shoshana Walter, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
This study, put together by Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, shows almost a third of pregnant people worry about harming their baby through exercise, and 24% feel unsure about what’s actually safe.
—Hannah Silverman, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026
In particular, many are now studying the broader role of systemic inflammation and the gut–brain axis' role in harming the brain.
—New Atlas, 8 Feb. 2026
Hot water and soap, followed by a vinegar rinse, can provide peace of mind without harming the surface.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026
These workers are responsible for clearing popular ski routes by using handheld explosives to prevent avalanches from harming guests.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
At a time when Florida’s educator retention problem is harming students statewide, inaction is a choice that maintains a failing status quo.
—Andrew Spar, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Feb. 2026
The animal cruelty charge reportedly stemmed from Revuckas also allegedly harming Morales’ dog, who attempted to protect her during the attack, according to WGN.
—Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for harming
Verb
-
The best way to avoid damaging your curls is to create an anchor point for your veil to adhere to.—
Shelby Wax,
Vogue,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Lajčák stepped down to avoid damaging his ally, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, but denies any material wrongdoing.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While traveling through Dayton, Texas, a truck struck the monks’ escort vehicle, injuring several people, according to local media reports previously cited by Reuters.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Johnson had to withdraw from Beijing one month before the Games after injuring her knee.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That said, a season-ending injury to Zach Charbonnet leaves the Seahawks with only one dangerous runner, and Kenneth Walker is more adept at hurting defenses inside than on the edges, where the Patriots are weakest.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Cornyn is in a heated primary against state Attorney General Ken Paxton; both parties think a Paxton win would make the seat far more competitive, hurting the party nationally.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Last week, a drone strike hit close to a WFP facility in the Blue Nile province, wounding a WFP worker, Brown said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Last week, a drone strike hit close to a WFP facility in the Blue Nile province, wounding a WFP worker, Brown also said.—
Samy Magdy,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Other states have done so without compromising food safety.—
Krista Kafer,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The surgeon performing this type of rhinoplasty must carefully reshape the nasal structure without compromising strength or function.—
Kaitlyn Gomez,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the big problem is why the dollar is weakening.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Nevertheless, proponents of the theory have suggested without evidence that the substation’s electromagnetic fields could be damaging players’ soft tissues and weakening their tendons.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Harming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harming. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
