injure

[ in-jer ]

verb (used with object)

, in·jured, in·jur·ing.

1. to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair:

   to injure one's hand.

   Synonyms: mar, break, ruin, spoil

   Antonyms: benefit

2. to do wrong or injustice to.

   Synonyms: abuse, maltreat

3. to wound or offend:

   to injure a friend's feelings.

injure

/ ˈɪndʒə /

verb

1. to cause physical or mental harm or suffering to; hurt or wound
2. to offend, esp by an injustice

Derived Forms

• ˈinjured, adjective
• ˈinjurer, noun
• ˈinjurable, adjective

Other Words From

• injur·a·ble adjective
• injur·er noun
• quasi-injured adjective
• re·injure verb (used with object) reinjured reinjuring
• un·injured adjective
• un·injur·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of injure¹

1575–85; back formation from injury (noun); replacing injury (verb)

Word History and Origins

Origin of injure¹

C16: back formation from injury

Synonym Study

Injure, impair mean to harm or damage something. Injure is a general term referring to any kind or degree of damage: to injure one's spine; to injure one's reputation. To impair is to make imperfect in any way, often with a suggestion of progressive deterioration and of permanency in the result: One's health is impaired by overwork.

Example Sentences

San Diego’s rainstorms are only going to become more intense and less predictable, like a bad relationship putting further strain on its already injured state.

From Voice of San Diego

According to police, the driver of the Impala was sitting in his vehicle when it was hit and was not injured.

From Washington Post

The accident resulted in two children being injured, including one with life-threatening injuries.

From Washington Post

It included every kind of professional they could think of who comes in contact with sick or injured people besides the obvious doctors and paramedics, etc.

From Voice of San Diego

Injuries are an unfortunate and all-too-common reality faced by runners—up to 75 percent of all runners are injured each year.

From Outside Online

The al Qaeda-linked gunmen shot back, but only managed to injure one officer before they were taken out.

From The Daily Beast

Even a relatively small 250-pound bomb could kill or injure friendly troops who are within 650 feet of the explosion.

From The Daily Beast

Beijing, famously, launched a coordinated and sustained attack against Google a half decade ago to injure its business in China.

From The Daily Beast

The children in these stories then went on to injure themselves by falling off of old bridges or cutting themselves.

From The Daily Beast

Not mentioned in the video: Firearms kill or injure 10,000 American children each year.

From The Daily Beast

How many in Melbourne injure wealth and brain, I leave to more skilled and morose critics.

From Project Gutenberg

His expression said plainly that he would tear in a thousand pieces anything that dared to injure a hair of her head.

From Project Gutenberg

The League Oracle admits that "a repeal would injure the farmer, but not so much as he fears."

From Project Gutenberg

It looks, too, as if you were afraid to trust her, and thought she would injure the furniture.

From Project Gutenberg

It should always be erected on dry ground, rather than upon moist, so that no dampness may arise and injure the leaves in curing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• batter
• break
• damage
• harm
• hurt
• maim
• mutilate
• torture
• wound