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

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 injure Georgia’s interior ministry has said that more than 150 officers have been injured during the protests, Reuters reported. —

Christian Edwards, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024 Apparently, the former House Speaker, who notably continues to wear high heeled shoes, slipped on a marble floor and injured and likely fractured her hip. —

Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024 An Indiana man convicted of murder, assault and driving under the influence after crashing into a family in downtown Louisville — killing one man and injuring others in his family — was handed the maximum sentence of 70 years in prison on Friday. —

Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 13 Dec. 2024 Dog kills 1, injures 3 including cops:Animal euthanized after killing woman, injuring man and biting 2 Boston officers Girl hospitalized after being attacked by coyote The agency reported it was alerted about the attack on Friday, after the girl was released from a hospital. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for injure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for injure

Verb

Such interactions may cause prospects to question the appropriateness of your outreach, damaging trust and credibility.

Samuel Darwin, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Two main water reservoirs were also reportedly damaged, Reuters reported.

Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024