as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the damaging effects of the sun on unprotected skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in injuring
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the explosion in the sewers damaged the entire city's water supply
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wounding
to cause bodily damage to
his knee was badly damaged in the accident, and he walked with a limp for months
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of damaging
Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
On Wednesday evening, when the storm moves in, there's a chance for damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado in Texas.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025
On Thursday, the storm will fully blossom in the South, bringing the threat of tornadoes and damaging winds from Houston to Jackson, Mississippi.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025
The tower came crashing down across South Osage Street, damaging power cables and falling just short of a home.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for damaging 
Adjective
Severe cold could be very damaging to lawns; most should regrow.
—Tom MacCubbin, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2025
On Wednesday evening, when the storm moves in, there's a chance for damaging winds, hail and even an isolated tornado in Texas.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025
On Thursday, the storm will fully blossom in the South, bringing the threat of tornadoes and damaging winds from Houston to Jackson, Mississippi.
—Max Golembo, ABC News, 29 Jan. 2025
The tower came crashing down across South Osage Street, damaging power cables and falling just short of a home.
—Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for damaging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damaging
Adjective
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Listeria is especially harmful to people who are pregnant, aged 65 or older, or with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.—
Kelly Tyko,
Axios,
10 Feb. 2025
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Many invasive species end up in U.S. ecosystems when people release aquarium pets that are harmful to native species.—
Kate Linderman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Meanwhile, a car plowed through a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Friday night, killing five people and injuring some 200 others.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
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The anti-immigrant rhetoric has been so acute that an anti-immigration far-right extremist in Germany — ironically himself an immigrant — just attacked a holiday market, killing at least five and injuring hundreds.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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According to a new study from the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Mānoa, plastics are becoming the most prevalent form of pollution in the ocean, which can be detrimental to marine species and their habitat.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
14 Feb. 2025
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Losing this momentum will be very detrimental to finding the TRUTH, which is turning out to be a disaster for those involved in running our Government.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hamilton said that wind shear combined with an icy runway would make dangerous conditions for a flip.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
18 Feb. 2025
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Schools districts throughout Kentucky closed on Monday, citing flooded streets, dangerous travel conditions and power outages that impacted some 15,000 homes and businesses.—
Christopher Cann,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
Verb
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For example, Netflix uses it to deliver seamless streaming to millions, scaling efficiently without compromising speed.—
Jyothish R,
Forbes,
27 Dec. 2024
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Now, as Teddy barrels ahead with a Senate campaign, they are targeted by an anonymous leaker showing them in compromising positions.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Sitting for too long can lead to a host of adverse health effects, but taking short movement breaks throughout the day can offset these risks.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
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Some such adverse impacts include difficulty driving or with close-up activities like reading, writing, cooking, sewing or fixing things around the house.—
Daryl Austin,
USA TODAY,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The fate of the company remains uncertain, and efforts to preserve its American roots could end up harming workers in Pennsylvania in the long run.—
Alan Rappeport,
New York Times,
3 Jan. 2025
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Even in the absence of barriers, a self-driving car would’ve stopped short of harming the crowd assembled in New Orleans on Wednesday, Missy Cummings, a professor of systems engineering and director of Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center at George Mason University, told ABC News.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
2 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The weather was bad enough that MassDOT dropped the speed limit on the pike and forbid tandem trucks from the road.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
17 Feb. 2025
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Hudl clips are cut from the previous training session, with three good things and three bad things presented.—
Braidon Nourse,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near damaging
Cite this Entry
“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damaging. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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