collateral damage
noun
: injury inflicted on something other than an intended target
specifically
: civilian casualties of a military operation
Examples of collateral damage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But this will take time and there will certainly be collateral damage.
—
Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Should Telsa be collateral damage, China will dominate the global EV market.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Businesses are collateral damage as the explosion of immigration enforcement worsens staffing issues for businesses already facing worker shortages, according to Amy Peck, a partner with the Jackson Lewis law firm who represents employers in immigration matters.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 13 June 2025
The nameless boy becomes nothing more than collateral damage on the men’s superficial spiritual journey, cheapening any real progress that the brothers had made.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
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Alex Lazarow, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Should Telsa be collateral damage, China will dominate the global EV market.
—Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025
Businesses are collateral damage as the explosion of immigration enforcement worsens staffing issues for businesses already facing worker shortages, according to Amy Peck, a partner with the Jackson Lewis law firm who represents employers in immigration matters.
—Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 13 June 2025
The nameless boy becomes nothing more than collateral damage on the men’s superficial spiritual journey, cheapening any real progress that the brothers had made.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for collateral damage
Cite this Entry
“Collateral damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collateral%20damage. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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