damaging 1 of 2

adjective

ˈda-mi-jiŋ How to pronounce damaging (audio)
Definition of damagingnext
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

damaging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of damage
1
as in injuring
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply

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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

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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 damaging
Adjective
That internal frustration has coincided with one of the most damaging stretches of departures in DeepMind’s history. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Flooding impacts could become more serious and damaging in these locations. — Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
Pulling a contract forward may secure short-term revenue while damaging a strategically important relationship. — Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026 ComEd crews working to restore power to thousands of customers in Illinois following damaging storms earlier this week will need a few more days before everything is back to normal, officials said on Thursday. — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
  1. harmful
  2. injuring
  3. wounding
  4. detrimental
  5. marring
  6. hurting
  7. dangerous
  8. compromising
Adjective
  • These spurious claims about childhood vaccines will only increase vaccine hesitation with harmful results.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • One reason for this is that peppermint oil has known antimicrobial properties and can destroy harmful microorganisms.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of harmful
Verb
  • The trip changed his life when terrorist Rashid Baz opened fire on the van, murdering 16-year-old Ari Halberstam, and injuring several others.
    — Lisa Rozner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • During one memorable moment, a powerful wave crashed over a sea wall in Ventura, injuring eight people.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of injuring
Verb
  • Thai police shot and arrested a teenager who opened fire at a school in the south of the country in February, killing the principal and wounding two students.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • All of the missiles slipped past Ukrainian defenses, killing least 17 people and wounding dozens more.
    — Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of wounding
Adjective
  • The reduction in state investments and holding back promised funding to cover our faculty raises will have detrimental consequences to our institution, to us as students, and to the state’s future health care workforce.
    — Opinion, Hartford Courant, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This development was approved after years of environmental studies and reviews by multiple state regulatory agencies and the Pittsburg City Council that concluded that there was no detrimental impact on the environment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Verb
  • To prevent a similar war from happening again, Menelaus scarred her face, permanently marring her famous beauty.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
  • Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline.
    — Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Definition of marring
Verb
  • Unfortunately, the play could end up hurting his chances of making Carolina’s final roster.
    — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There’s a kind of prisoner’s dilemma hurting Democrats who want to beat the left in swing-state primaries.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurting
Adjective
  • Ultimately, swarms of AI could combine in rather disconcerting and dangerous ways.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Nikolai’s identity as a dissident made remaining in the country dangerous.
    — Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Verb
  • The best Tech leaders align Sales and Finance without compromising speed or control.
    — Ashish Srimal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The monitor also has HP Eye Ease, which keeps your eyes from straining while not compromising on visual fidelity.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of compromising

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damages
damaging
dame
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Cite this Entry

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on damaging

Nglish: Translation of damaging for Spanish Speakers

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