damaging

adjective

dam·​ag·​ing ˈda-mi-jiŋ How to pronounce damaging (audio)
Synonyms of damagingnext
: causing or able to cause damage : injurious
has a damaging effect on wildlife
damagingly
ˈda-mi-jiŋ-lē How to pronounce damaging (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of damaging

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Examples of damaging in a Sentence

the damaging effects of the sun on your skin The storm may produce damaging winds. He says he has damaging information about the candidate. The evidence was very damaging to their case.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The storm system brings the chance of some hail and damaging winds throughout the evening. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026 Positive lightning is more powerful and damaging than negative lightning. — Yunyao Li, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 Trump’s tariffs on China, which led to retaliatory duties and a Chinese pivot to other markets for products such as soybeans, have been particularly damaging, Short said in an interview with CNBC. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 30 July 2026 Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail are expected in the Southeast and the northern High Plains. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for damaging

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of damaging was circa 1828

Browse Nearby Words

damaged goods
damaging
damagingly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damaging. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on damaging

Nglish: Translation of damaging for Spanish Speakers

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