damaging

adjective

dam·​ag·​ing ˈda-mi-jiŋ 

: causing or able to cause damage : injurious

has a damaging effect on wildlife

damagingly

ˈda-mi-jiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of damaging

• harmful
• detrimental
• dangerous
• adverse

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

There also were peak levels of microscopic particles in wildfire smoke, which are particularly damaging to lung and cardiovascular health, according to MPCA officials. — Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 16 July 2026

Ultimately, Moraff and Fan deemed the issue politically damaging and moved on from Williams to Platner — who was already the subject of a 2024 Facebook post warning women not to get involved with him. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 July 2026

Then the 2023 labor strikes created severe production delays, delivering another damaging setback. — Brent Lang, Variety, 15 July 2026

The first and most damaging is certainty—the belief that your views are unequivocally right. — Susan MacKenty Brady, Fortune, 14 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above