hurtful

[ hurt-fuhl ]

adjective

1. causing hurt or injury; injurious; harmful.

   Synonyms: noxious, pernicious, destructive

hurtful

/ ˈhɜːtfʊl /

adjective

1. causing distress or injury

   to say hurtful things

Derived Forms

• ˈhurtfulness, noun
• ˈhurtfully, adverb

Other Words From

• hurtful·ly adverb
• hurtful·ness noun
• un·hurtful adjective
• un·hurtful·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurtful¹

First recorded in 1520–30; hurt + -ful

Example Sentences

This full-stop disconnection is unexpected, perplexing and hurtful.

From Washington Post

But, even subtle micro aggressions, such as a snide comment on a celeb coming out, can be hurtful, they added.

From Washington Blade

A few months of restarting your cycle might get you back around to hurtful.

From Ozy

She said it’s hurtful when people she knows in real life are the ones doing the harassing, but she said social media harassment doesn’t bother her because they’re being made by people who don’t actually know her.

From Voice of San Diego

It’s hurtful, and it does make me feel like maybe it’s impossible.

From Washington Post

Some of it is completely silly and some of it is meant to be hurtful.

From The Daily Beast

Twenty years after the phrase entered the American lexicon, “Soccer Mom” retains its power as hurtful speech.

From The Daily Beast

But some opponents say its research tactics and spending habits are more hurtful than helpful.

From The Daily Beast

They don't understand how hurtful it is to see my father dragged out of the wreckage...No one should see my father this way.

From The Daily Beast

“Amendment 1” seems to protect bullying on social media and insensitive and hurtful speech as well.

From The Daily Beast

The island is especially favoured; it contains no poisonous or hurtful insects or reptiles.

From Project Gutenberg

Many novels are hurtful because of the many false ideas interwoven in the stories.

From Project Gutenberg

Many hurtful acts, indeed, came to be viewed as crimes alike against God and man, and punishable in the interests of both.

From Project Gutenberg

His powerful logic would surprise,Amaze, and much delight: He proved that dimness of the eyesWas hurtful to the sight.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing can be more hurtful to science than the dogmatic assumption that the hypothesis most in fashion is scientific.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• damaging
• dangerous
• destructive
• detrimental
• distressing
• harmful
• malicious
• nasty
• pernicious
• prejudicial
• unkind
• upsetting