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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
Yang’s Biao has appeared multiple times before and never fails to disappoint, but with our current 145 percent tariff on China, the character was really in top form and put into focus the notion that this economic strategy is going to hurt America most. Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 13 Apr. 2025 Many fear the company is going to have raise prices on its devices, potentially hurting sales, though others expect that a fast ramp-up of operations in India could mitigate those risks. Sarah Min, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
Lost in the hurt and anger of the trade is that Davis is a Hall of Fame player. Mac Engel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2025 When paramedics arrived a few minutes later, Burch complained that his right side hurt. Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 26 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hurt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurt
Verb
  • Warm baths, heating pads, or warm socks can comfort aching feet.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Williams recalled visiting 10 doctors over four years, trying to figure out what was causing her symptoms, including aching limbs, fatigue and chronic diarrhea.
    Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Mineral extraction has damaging social consequences in developing countries, where the impoverished are often compelled to work in unsafe and unhygienic conditions.
    Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Arson – To unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property of another person or entity by fire or incendiary device.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The spill killed 11 people and injured 17 others as 210 million gallons of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico (recently renamed by the U.S. government as Gulf of America) for a total of 87 days.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Memorial at Florida State University after a fatal shooting killed two people and injured several others.
    Kati Weis, CBS News, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Scammers have been known to impersonate the deceased to exploit grieving friends and family.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Out West in Colorado, mourners grieved not only the passing of a spiritual guide but for a leader who was deeply engaged with the world's most urgent issues.
    Juliana Kim, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Kahle said that includes providing resources to participants for whom sharing experiences of intimate partner violence may cause trauma or mental health distress.
    Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Costa Rican officials have disputed reports by the country’s Ombudsman’s Office that the deportees arrived in Costa Rica in visible distress and that authorities failed to guarantee proper conditions for arriving deportees.
    Megan Janetsky, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the market did not and still does not account for such harms, only fossil fuel sales and use.
    Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Despite $600 million allocated by Congress to expand sewage treatment capacity, progress is outrageously slow and the harm to our communities continues.
    Phillip Musegaas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His estranged relationship with his mother pains him, and his constant traveling suggests a restlessness at his core.
    Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
  • As someone who has also been a lifelong animal lover, this pains me.
    U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • His rookie season was marred by an uneven second half, which was hindered by hand and foot injuries.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 25 Apr. 2025
  • His final collegiate season was marred by a shoulder injury and insufficient QB play, but Loveland still led the Wolverines in receptions (56), receiving yards (582) and receiving TDs (five).
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurt. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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