damaging

American

[dam-i-jing] / ˈdæm ɪ dʒɪŋ /

adjective

causing or capable of causing damages; harmful; injurious.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of damaging

First recorded in 1850–55; damage + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Perhaps less well-known is that Las Vegas is surrounded on all sides by faults, which might come as a surprise since a damaging earthquake hasn’t hit the city in its short modern history.

From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026

Dahlia Lithwick: Election law expert Rick Hasen just described this as “one of the most pernicious and damaging Supreme Court decisions of the past century.”

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2026

He said there would be "inevitable and extremely damaging consequences" for the region and wider world if military action restarted.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

That’s because even a short-term pause can have lasting effects underground, damaging reservoir pressure and increasing the risk of mechanical problems.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

It had survived heavy snows, sheets of rain, and damaging hail.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023