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
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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
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Recent Examples of hurtful
In that film, a group of high school girls create such a book to write hurtful rumors and gossip about other students.
—
Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Finally, tell your friends that their harsh comments are more hurtful than helpful.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
However, sometimes our discussions would turn into heated and hurtful arguments.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
These allegations are false and incredibly hurtful to both me and, more importantly, my family.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Jay King, The Athletic, 13 Feb. 2025
Finally, tell your friends that their harsh comments are more hurtful than helpful.
—Harriette Cole, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2025
However, sometimes our discussions would turn into heated and hurtful arguments.
—Jeanne Phillips, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2025
These allegations are false and incredibly hurtful to both me and, more importantly, my family.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
Adjective
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Studies have shown that testers can harbor harmful bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of styes and other infections), E. coli, yeast, and mold.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
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Organic farms use natural farming methods to keep the soil, water, and environment free from potentially harmful chemicals.7 Similarities Grass-fed and organic foods share a commitment to natural farming.—
Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, RDN, LD,
Health,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Whether a client hires a single architect to design a house or a team to work on a downtown plan with multiple community stakeholders, the architect-client relationship is rarely one of a painful struggle.—
Matt Shaw,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
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Throughout her childhood, Dee Dee subjected her Gypsy-Rose to years of painful medical procedures that were not needed.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
28 Feb. 2025
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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Even then, the final late twist with the penalty felt particularly cruel.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Still Alice highlights the cruel nature of the illness, where a person can still feel present while simultaneously losing pieces of themselves, creating a unique kind of grief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The storms are also known for their strong, damaging winds.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
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Storms with damaging winds and flash flooding were the main threats, but there was also the possibility of tornadoes.—
Daniel Amarante,
ABC News,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Unlike Western cleansers, which often rely on harsh surfactants or astringent ingredients, Korean ones maintain the skin’s moisture barrier and natural pH balance, says Cho.—
Denise Primbet,
Glamour,
28 Feb. 2025
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Her lyric vocal writing contends with harsh reality, but her style is never far from profound rapture.—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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
Cite this Entry
“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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