hurtful

adjective

ˈhərt-fəl How to pronounce hurtful (audio)
Definition of hurtfulnext
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

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 hurtful Forget the fines and suspensions, most hurtful to fans is the league stripping the Clippers of five first-round draft picks, from 2029 through 2033. — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 All through our relationship, my mother has said very hurtful things to me about our timeline, and also about my career. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 4 Sep. 2026 Just remember, when your daughter repeats something hurtful, resist the urge to defend yourself or criticize her mother. — Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 But that has been hurtful because his power and exit velocities are average to below average. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
  1. harmful
  2. painful
  3. detrimental
  4. cruel
  5. damaging
  6. harsh
  7. dangerous
  8. adverse
Adjective
  • Social media giant Meta was hit with a class action lawsuit in Australia on behalf of children and teenagers who allegedly suffered harm over the addictive design features and exposure to harmful content on its platforms Facebook and Instagram.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Their contracts can run hundreds of pages, making harmful terms easy to bury.
    — Emma Witman, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • Some things are too painful for words, and Crystal knows that sense cannot be made from senselessness.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Once people expect benefits, cutting them off is politically painful.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • The company still faces numerous personal injury claims and a separate federal case involving a group of nationwide school districts that also focus on allegations that apps like Instagram have had detrimental effects on the well being of children.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Often, those firms’ IT heads think those changes are detrimental.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of detrimental
Adjective
  • Participants fell into their roles a little too well and, after a prisoner rebellion, increasingly cruel forms of punishment from the guards and a number of students suffering mental breakdowns, the experiment was ended on the sixth day.
    — Marlow Stern, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But these townswomen — whether the undersexed Bakerwoman (Ella Bruccoleri ) or the prim, cruel busybody the Tailor’s Wife (a deliciously scheming Elizabeth Debicki) — are deeply unhappy with their own lot in life.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of damaging
Adjective
  • However, perovskites are notoriously vulnerable to moisture and harsh chemical environments, posing a clear problem in seawater.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • With another harsh winter approaching, those still there face death from hunger or disease.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • In November 2021, crew members took shelter inside their spacecraft after a Russian anti-satellite weapons test created a dangerous cloud of debris.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
  • In 2015, Chicago’s public health department identified three cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a highly dangerous pathogen that can kill within hours.
    — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of dangerous
Adjective
  • In recent years, cocoa prices have surged due to adverse weather across key West African producing regions.
    — , CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Batie-Smoose seeks reinstatement or a comparable job, compensation and correction of adverse personnel records.
    — Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of adverse

Browse Nearby Words

hurt (for)
hurtful
hurtfully
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Cite this Entry

“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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