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damage 1 of 2

Definition of damagenext
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as in fine
damages plural a sum of money to be paid as a punishment ordered by the court to pay $1000 in damages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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damage

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word damage distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of damage are harm, hurt, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When can harm be used instead of damage?

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

careful not to harm the animals

Where would hurt be a reasonable alternative to damage?

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

hurt by their callous remarks

When might impair be a better fit than damage?

The words impair and damage are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When could injure be used to replace damage?

While the synonyms injure and damage are close in meaning, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

In what contexts can mar take the place of damage?

The words mar and damage can be used in similar contexts, but 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 damage
Noun
The blaze caused severe damage to the synagogue's administrative office and its library, according to ABC affiliate station WAPT in Jackson. Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 11 Jan. 2026 These steps slow scammers down and reduce impulse clicks before damage happens. Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Chicago police helped evacuate the area, and while no one was injured, several vehicles were damaged. Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025 Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation said that in Dnipro, a multi-story building was damaged in a drone strike that killed a woman and injured 11 people, including a 13-year-old girl. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damage
Noun
  • This appears as an attempt to kill or to cause bodily harm to the agent ---- an act of domestic terrorism.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Robbery – The taking of anything of value from the control, custody or care of another person by force or threat of force and/or by putting the victim in fear of immediate harm.
    Baltimore Sun staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Those who break the rules are hit with fines depending on the severity of the infraction.
    Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Judge Steven Hippler sentenced Kohberger, 30, to four lifetimes in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students, plus 10 years for a burglary charge and $270,000 in fines and civil penalties.
    Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Court rulings have favored athletes of late, winning them not just millions in compensation but the ability to play immediately after transferring rather than have to sit out a year as once was the case.
    ANDREW DESTIN, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Reyes defended the compensation, saying it was negotiated in good faith.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • By March 2024, the state had already spent $3 million reimbursing ranchers for damages caused by wolves throughout the northern part of the state, as well as the cost of investing in nonlethal deterrents to keep them away, such as fencing, flags and other methods.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 12 Jan. 2026
  • The average cost of a home health aide is around $6,000 a month.
    Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • When Dobbins was first injured, a source close to him said the best-case scenario for his return was if the Broncos made the Super Bowl.
    Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Dellandrea was injured in the Sharks’ game on Tuesday against the Columbus Blue Jackets as his right leg struck the post after he was inadvertently tripped while driving to the net.
    Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Ukrainian officials said four people were killed and at least 22 wounded in the capital overnight.
    CBS News, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Federal agents wounded two people in a shooting in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Or perhaps the kill shot actually came in Week 1, when Brock Purdy picked up a nagging turf-toe injury that refused to properly heal for 10 weeks.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
  • At tackle, Ben Taylor-Whitfield returns at right tackle, but who will man the left side with Ryan Hughes recovering from a season-ending injury?
    Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Hendrickson proved to be too much, and Suamataia was benched for Morris after allowing two sacks and taking two holding penalties in the second half.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Jimenez’s movement drags Forest centre-back Nikola Milenkovic up the pitch, allowing Smith Rowe to carry the ball forward and progress the attack, which leads to the award of the penalty that proves to be the game’s only goal.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Damage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damage. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on damage

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