1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the most hurtful thing you can do to this silk dress is put it in the dryer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
her ex-husband said hurtful things that she could never forgive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of hurtful
All visitors who paid for entry were told that only kind words would be tolerated, and any hurtful words or curses would result in immediate expulsion from the tent.
—
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Traditionally, the style focuses on making jabs at someone’s appearance or identity, welcoming hurtful comments that punch down on someone when done without thoughtfulness.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Others view it as something deeply hurtful.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
This is hurtful and bothers me a lot.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Traditionally, the style focuses on making jabs at someone’s appearance or identity, welcoming hurtful comments that punch down on someone when done without thoughtfulness.
—Steven Vargas, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Others view it as something deeply hurtful.
—Joe Davidson
may 7, Sacbee.com, 7 May 2026
This is hurtful and bothers me a lot.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
Adjective
-
But others say research in Australia has shown that age verification is difficult to enforce, and that a blanket ban seemed to be a snap decision that does not address a deeper problem — the way social media algorithms push harmful content to young people.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 June 2026
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There were also die-offs of seals, sea lions and marine birds, Leising said, probably from a combination of a lack of food and harmful algal blooms, and less food out there for baleen whales.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
-
The core characters Each character came into their own during the series, sometimes in emotionally painful ways.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
14 June 2026
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Hidden inside those numbers is a long and painful history.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
NPR,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
Erdozain writes with a poet’s concision but a maximalist’s zeal, leaving no room in his historical account for any doubt that American exceptionalism has been a singularly detrimental force.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
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The longer this pattern continues, the more likely that the detrimental effects can spread beyond cognitive health.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the simple story — written by Jordan Tannahill, who adapted his own book, and directed by Janicza Bravo — illustrates various destructive choices and cruel actions ostensibly driven by love.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
-
Here is the part that feels especially cruel.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Another round of storms will develop near an advancing cold front in the afternoon across northeast Kansas, southern Iowa, and northern Missouri, possibly starting as supercells — large rotating thunderstorms — with very large hail, damaging winds, and a few tornadoes, the weather service said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
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These storms will be capable of producing damaging winds, hail, and torrential rains.—
Tony Sadiku,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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Ikutiminu, who will attend UC Irvine in the fall, even spoke with musicians about how to create a sound that would be less harsh than the vuvuzela.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
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Without toxic acids Tripathi’s breakthrough eliminates the harsh chemicals.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
That is exactly why these fake job offers are so dangerous.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
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Over the last week, the greatest threat of dangerous rip currents and sneaker waves has been on the beaches facing south or southwest, officials said.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Under its bylaws, the Big 12 can punish a member school for engaging in actions materially adverse to the conference.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 June 2026
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Such insurance contracts are commonplace among teams and players to insure against adverse events, according to Karl Lockhart, a DePaul University law professor specialized in prediction markets.—
Camila Grigera Naon,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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