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
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Tuesday’s storms could be strong to severe with the main threats being large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes, according to the NWS. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Mar. 2025 More than 400,000 homes and businesses in five states were without power Monday as severe weather blasted a corridor from Texas to Michigan with damaging winds, hail and possible tornadoes. John Bacon, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2025 Professionals, for the most part, consider these to be inefficient or damaging to knives. Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025 Now, research has confirmed just how damaging that habit can be. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 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 13 Apr. 2025.

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