damaging

adjective

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

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.
States in the Mid-Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee valleys, stretching all the way into parts of Pennsylvania and western New York, could see thunderstorms, damaging winds, hail and a possible isolated tornado, the weather service said. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 2 May 2025 These storms will pose a threat for damaging wind gusts, hail and tornadoes – some of which could be EF2 or greater – into the evening. Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025 The center's forecast highlights the potential for damaging winds, large to very large hail, and tornadoes, including the possibility of strong tornadoes. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025 The trade put an end to a damaging few weeks for the team-player relationship between the Heat and Butler. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damaging. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

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