damaging

1 of 2

adjective

dam·ag·ing ˈda-mi-jiŋ

Synonyms of damaging

: causing or able to cause damage : injurious

has a damaging effect on wildlife

damagingly

ˈda-mi-jiŋ-lē

adverb

damaging

2 of 2

present participle of damage entry 2

Examples of damaging in a Sentence

Adjective the damaging effects of the sun on your skin The storm may produce damaging winds. He says he has damaging information about the candidate. The evidence was very damaging to their case.

Recent Examples on the Web

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Adjective

Because these claims can be so damaging to a business’s reputation, legal defense fees and settlement costs can become very expensive. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday night, northern and central parts of the state saw hail the size of golf balls that pummeled people’s roofs, shattered windows and dented cars, along with damaging wind gusts. — Wufei Yu, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026 Trump could decide that appearing powerless as Iranian attacks push up prices is more damaging than another round of military strikes. — Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Lycopene can help protect blood vessels from the damaging effects of unstable molecules known as free radicals. — Md Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damaging

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of damaging was circa 1828

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Damaging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/damaging. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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damaging

adjective

Synonyms of damaging

Examples of damaging in a Sentence

Word History

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