INJURE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'injure' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of injure are damage , harm , hurt , impair , and mar . While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success. // badly injured in an accident

Q: When might 'damage' be a better fit than 'injure'?

The words damage and injure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness. // a table damaged in shipping

Q: When is it sensible to use 'harm' instead of 'injure'?

Although the words harm and injure have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss. // careful not to harm the animals

Q: When can 'hurt' be used instead of 'injure'?

In some situations, the words hurt and injure are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings. // hurt by their callous remarks

Q: When would 'impair' be a good substitute for 'injure'?

The words impair and injure can be used in similar contexts, but impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution. // years of smoking had impaired his health

Q: When could 'mar' be used to replace 'injure'?

The meanings of mar and injure largely overlap; however, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement. // the text is marred by many typos

injure

verb

ˈin-jər

Definition of injure next

as in to damage

to cause bodily damage to injured himself while skiing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mar

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the agent's treachery has injured our national security for years to come

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word injure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of injure are damage, harm, hurt, impair, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When might damage be a better fit than injure?

The words damage and injure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When is it sensible to use harm instead of injure?

Although the words harm and injure have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When can hurt be used instead of injure?

In some situations, the words hurt and injure are roughly equivalent. However, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When would impair be a good substitute for injure?

The words impair and injure can be used in similar contexts, but impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When could mar be used to replace injure?

The meanings of mar and injure largely overlap; however, 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 injure Western officials say regularly Russia’s losses amount to 700,000 dead and injured, and independent media have tracked nearly 100,000 public records that suggest Russian military deaths on the battlefield. —

Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 During the final battle, Kirk is fatally injured and dies at the end of the movie, officially passing on the franchise’s torch to the TNG crew. —

Keith Langston, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025 Three people died in a Key West house fire that injured several others Thursday night, according to the city’s police department. —

David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025 With Inigo Martinez out injured after tearing his hamstring in the 5-2 Spanish Super Cup final pummelling of Real Madrid, both Araujo and Raphinha have strong chances of starting Wednesday's Copa del Rey last 16 clash against Real Betis on Wednesday. —

Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for injure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for injure

Verb

The most recent rupture occurred on Sunday, damaging a fiber optic cable connecting Latvia to the Swedish island of Gotland.

— Barbara A. Perry, Newsweek, 28 Jan. 2025
Conversely, toxic families are characterized by harmful behaviors that damage the emotional and psychological well-being of family members.

— Samantha Mann, Parents, 27 Jan. 2025