injure

verb

ˈin-jər How to pronounce injure (audio)
Definition of injurenext
1
as in to damage
to cause bodily damage to injured himself while skiing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mar
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the agent's treachery has injured our national security for years to come

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word injure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of injure are damage, harm, hurt, impair, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When might damage be a better fit than injure?

The words damage and injure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When is it sensible to use harm instead of injure?

Although the words harm and injure have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When can hurt be used instead of injure?

In some situations, the words hurt and injure are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When would impair be a good substitute for injure?

The words impair and injure can be used in similar contexts, but impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When could mar be used to replace injure?

The meanings of mar and injure largely overlap; however, 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 injure Officials said 15 people between the ages of 25 and 88 were injured with burns. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 June 2025 The beloved gator was badly injured and had to be euthanized after he was hit crossing Highway 74 near a Publix Supermarket early Friday, according to the Peachtree City Police Department. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025 Three people were injured when a vehicle slammed into the side of an aging building in Kansas City’s Lykins neighborhood Thursday night. —Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2025 One of the teens who remains hospitalized was critically injured. —Samara Gerstle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for injure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for injure
  1. damage
  2. mar
  3. hurt
  4. cripple
  5. wound
  6. weaken
  7. bruise
  8. impair
Verb
  • Her older brother, a successful economist, and her sister, a government lawyer, have repeatedly warned her that her outspokenness could damage not only her career but theirs.
    — Eyal Press, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
  • Driving through deep water can also damage a vehicle's mechanical and electrical systems.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 June 2025
Definition of damage
Verb
  • Graffiti marred the exterior of City Hall, an Art Deco landmark built in 1928.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Signed in 2023 from Fenerbahce in his homeland, Guler’s debut season was marred by injuries.
    — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 8 June 2025
Definition of mar
Verb
  • Clark got hurt at the end of that game and hasn’t suited up since.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 14 June 2025
  • So giving Luis Campusano a start — finally — can’t hurt a whole lot.
    — Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 June 2025
Definition of hurt
Verb
  • About six weeks ago, hackers crippled the computer systems of the TV and mobile phone provider Dish Network.
    — Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2023
  • Oakland Mills Coach: Chris Brewington Last season: Class 2A state champion Outlook: Losing the talent Oakland Mills did from last year’s outdoor season would cripple most programs, but the Scorpions have reloaded.
    — Anthony Maluso, Baltimore Sun, 22 Mar. 2023
Definition of cripple
Verb
  • Another influx of 184 wounded arrived at the Red Cross field hospital June 3, the ICRC said in a statement; 19 were declared dead on arrival, and eight more died of their wounds not long afterwards.
    — Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 5 June 2025
  • How many people died on D-Day? On D-Day alone, around 4,440 Allied troops were confirmed dead, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), with more than 5,800 troops wounded or missing.
    — Catherine Nicholls, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
Definition of wound
Verb
  • Should the economy unexpectedly weaken, larger and sooner cuts are possible.
    — Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
  • Since then, a series of shifts has reshaped the Middle East and weakened Iran and its proxies, the war in Gaza, Israel's decimation of the leadership of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the collapse of the Syrian regime, and now Israel's surprise attack.
    — / CBS News, CBS News, 15 June 2025
Definition of weaken
Verb
  • Now, after last year’s bruising war with Israel, Hezbollah is much weaker and Lebanon’s new political leaders sense an opportunity to revitalize the economy once again with help from wealthy neighbors.
    — Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2025
  • The Rebellion cruised to the playoffs thanks to a combination of a powerful rushing game and a bruising defense.
    — Ivan Carter, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2025
Definition of bruise
Verb
  • This is when trauma impairs emotional regulation and thinking, causing repetitive, distressing behaviors.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • None of the officers, aside from Gazzola, reported seeing signs that Pino was impaired.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
Definition of impair

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injunctions
injure
injured
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Cite this Entry

“Injure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/injure. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

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