INJURY Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'injury' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of injury are grievance , injustice , and wrong . While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation. // libel constitutes a legal injury

Q: When could 'grievance' be used to replace 'injury'?

The synonyms grievance and injury are sometimes interchangeable, but grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint. // a list of employee grievances

Q: When is it sensible to use 'injustice' instead of 'injury'?

In some situations, the words injustice and injury are roughly equivalent. However, injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights. // the injustices suffered by the lower classes

Q: In what contexts can 'wrong' take the place of 'injury'?

While in some cases nearly identical to injury , wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice. // determined to right society's wrongs

injury

noun

ˈin-j(ə-)rē

Definition of injury

as in damage

something that causes loss or pain the harsh words were the worst injury that his father could inflict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in injustice

unfair or inadequate treatment of someone or something or an instance of this the state did the rancher an injury when it destroyed his herd of cattle without adequate proof that it was diseased

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun injury contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of injury are grievance, injustice, and wrong. While all these words mean "an act that inflicts undeserved hurt," injury applies in law specifically to an injustice for which one may sue to recover compensation.

libel constitutes a legal injury

When could grievance be used to replace injury?

The synonyms grievance and injury are sometimes interchangeable, but grievance applies to a circumstance or condition that constitutes an injustice to the sufferer and gives just ground for complaint.

a list of employee grievances

When is it sensible to use injustice instead of injury?

In some situations, the words injustice and injury are roughly equivalent. However, injustice applies to any act that involves unfairness to another or violation of one's rights.

the injustices suffered by the lower classes

In what contexts can wrong take the place of injury?

While in some cases nearly identical to injury, wrong applies also in law to any act punishable according to the criminal code; it may apply more generally to any flagrant injustice.

determined to right society's wrongs

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 injury Clements is charged with two counts of first-degree homicide by vehicle, hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, stalking, and concealing the death of another. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Jadarian Price is not, however, as the Seahawks continue to be mysterious with their running back injuries. — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 In the exclusive first-look clip above, O’Connor artfully grapples with his longing to return to music, hugging a past version of himself playing the violin as his face bleeds from a boxing injury. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 28 Oct. 2026 Lamar Jackson was a full participant in practice for the Baltimore Ravens, which suggests his latest injury saga could be over sooner rather than later. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for injury

Recent Examples of Synonyms for injury

Noun

The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June and caused extensive damage also complicated efforts toward stability in the country.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
The procedure does not rebuild lost cartilage or reverse structural joint damage.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of damage

Noun

Yet some parents respond as though their children have suffered a serious injustice.

— Jonathan Alpert OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Saturday’s mobilization follows calls on social media to revive the yellow vest movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of injustice

Noun

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
Ryan McMonigle, a spokesman for Kansas City’s public works department, told The Star that LAZ Parking, or Park KC staff more generally, issue tickets for reasons including social harm, unpaid parking and license plate violations.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of harm

Noun

But the Rodriguez and other members of the Cuban delegation began banging the desks, calling for a point of order and shouting insults at Waltz.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026
The examination showed that Parker and Smith had exchanged dozens of texts, which include obscenities and insults, in the days before Parker's disappearance.

— News Editor, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of insult

Browse Nearby Words

injurious

injury

injustice

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Injury.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/injury. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of injury

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on injury

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes