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hurt

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adjective

hurt

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hurt distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurt are damage, harm, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When can damage be used instead of hurt?

Although the words damage and hurt have much in common, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than hurt?

The words harm and hurt can be used in similar contexts, but harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When could impair be used to replace hurt?

The words impair and hurt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When would injure be a good substitute for hurt?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurt, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When is mar a more appropriate choice than hurt?

While the synonyms mar and hurt are close in meaning, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

Example 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 hurt
Verb
The center position was viewed as a weak spot for LA following the Davis/Doncic deal, but Hayes’ move to the starting lineup hasn’t hurt the Lakers, who own the NBA’s best defensive rating since the start of February. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 9 Mar. 2025 Backed by wealthy donors and lobbying, their influence has driven energy costs higher, hurting working families, small businesses and seniors. Kathy Szeliga, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
Hemingway, unable to tolerate the insult to his self-love, had no choice except not to protest—to evidence a sense of hurt would be to ratify his critics’ view of him, and to surrender to a knowledge of his own absurdity. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025 That doesn’t obligate you to help, but compassion may win out over old hurts. R. Eric Thomas, The Denver Post, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hurt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurt
Verb
  • As Frank speaks, Rick is aching to satisfy his desire for revenge in what Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) correctly identifies as a ridiculous, Princess Bride-style plot to kill the man who killed his father.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Mar. 2025
  • To them, his bruised, brooding ballads are a repository for all of those deeply intense feelings that blossom in early adulthood: first love, shattering heartbreak, throbbing loneliness, desperate regret, aching nostalgia.
    Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The way it’s assembled brings a big advantage if it’s rolled or damaged, as body panels may be replaced in a matter of a few days.
    Kristin Shaw, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • During that time, Carney was criticized by some – particularly on the right – for warning repeatedly that leaving the European Union would damage Britain’s economy.
    Christian Edwards, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Man charged after crash that killed 5 A man was charged Friday with intoxication manslaughter after five people were killed and several injured in a late-night wreck in Austin, Texas, that involved more than a dozen vehicles on Interstate 35, authorities said.
    Compiled by Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Officials in Arkansas said Saturday morning that three people died in Independence County and 29 others were injured across eight counties as storms passed through the state overnight.
    Bruce Shipkowski, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: $29) Two grieving brothers come to terms with their history.
    The California Independent Booksellers Alliance, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
  • There is a grieving process for losing the social connection and the job.
    Lorraine Wiseman, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • While local authorities have since said the incident spawned from a physical altercation between two attendees, and that firearms were not involved, the resulting melee left at least 10 people with non-life-threatening injuries and numerous claiming emotion distress.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Garcia’s damages included physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, inconvenience, grief, disfigurement, physical impairment, anxiety and emotional distress, according to a recording of the verdict from Courtroom View Network.
    Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm.
    Simone Jasper, Charlotte Observer, 17 Mar. 2025
  • In a separate writeup, researchers at security firm Wiz said preliminary analysis of the attack has already established that dozens of tj-actions users have faced real harm in the supply-chain attack.
    Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • An idiosyncratic personal reckoning with the recent death of his mother that gradually expands to take in the perspectives of his kith and kin, the film has the busy, varied emotional intensity of many a family gathering: pained one minute, uproarious the next.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
  • Fans of football surely are both thrilled and pained at this matchup.
    Hannah Vanbiber, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Rodgers was cut by the New York Jets earlier this year following two seasons marred by an achilles injury and 6-12 overall record as the team’s starting quarterback.
    Sean Neumann, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
  • For Harris and his teammates, March Madness presents an opportunity for redemption after a season marred by a dozen losses.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurt. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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