as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in injuring
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
Under Trump, the U.S. is set to cannibalize the flow of funds into crucial sectors by cutting taxes, deregulating and attracting investment from Europe, Brzeski said, noting that this could be more damaging to the euro zone economy than tariffs.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
While stress is typically a reaction to an acute situation and resolves once the trigger subsides, the effects of burnout are far more damaging and pervasive.
—Tracy Lawrence, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
For teenagers especially, these comments can be damaging to their self-esteem, and should be shut down.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damaging 
Adjective
The flip side of that argument, though, is this: The only thing more damaging to the planet than putting up a new building is tearing down an old one and replacing it with another.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 12 Dec. 2024
Under Trump, the U.S. is set to cannibalize the flow of funds into crucial sectors by cutting taxes, deregulating and attracting investment from Europe, Brzeski said, noting that this could be more damaging to the euro zone economy than tariffs.
—Jenni Reid, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
While stress is typically a reaction to an acute situation and resolves once the trigger subsides, the effects of burnout are far more damaging and pervasive.
—Tracy Lawrence, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
For teenagers especially, these comments can be damaging to their self-esteem, and should be shut down.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 6 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
-
Another growing problem is the use of harmful flame retardants in the plastic enclosures around batteries.Arlene Blum, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
-
Additionally, the brand touts the product as being free from harmful chemicals, dyes, and synthetic fragrances, which earned it some extra brownie points.Casey Clark, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Police in Pennsylvania are searching for a man charged with breaking into a home in a Philadelphia suburb, fatally shooting a 25-year-old man and injuring a woman.Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
-
During his appearance on the podcast, Freeman also spoke about injuring himself on the set of David Fincher's thriller movie, Se7en.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The types of deception, manipulation and impersonations that can be perpetuated are frightening: • Deepfake videos of CEOs directing employees to take action or share information that could be detrimental to companies and their customers.Perry Carpenter, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Heavy lead exposure has long been known to be detrimental to our health.Theara Coleman, theweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Road conditions could also be dangerous in the region.Tanya Wildt, Detroit Free Press, 13 Dec. 2024
-
This new Cloak variant, Halcyon warned, can spread by way of dangerous drive-by downloads disguised as legitimate updates like Microsoft Windows installers.Davey Winder, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
QSAs are certified by the PCI SSC to validate a merchant’s adherence to PCI DSS and play a vital role in helping businesses achieve compliance faster and more efficiently without compromising security.Rui Ribeiro, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
-
This level of control enables continuous delivery without compromising stability.Dan Rogers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Blocking the deal on spurious national security grounds would invite many far more realistic, adverse national security and economic consequences.Dan Ikenson, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Several others have been banned over the years due to adverse health effects and other issues.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Residents and businesses cannot afford for the city to continue to be a greater outlier, risk harming our ability to recruit top talent and investments and send the wrong message to growing industries looking to build or grow in Chicago.Jack Lavin, Chicago Tribune, 11 Dec. 2024
-
The latest episode of Newsweek's Horizons podcast investigates the most promising ways to reduce the flood of plastic waste clogging waterways, threatening human health and harming ocean ecosystems.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
If anything, the living conditions seemed to get worse.Chris Quintana, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
-
Now this runs the risk of being one of those stories that will look really bad if James asks out to chase another ring, but there’s zero evidence that’s in the cards.Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near damaging
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share