Synonyms

damaging

American

[dam-i-jing] / ˈdæm ɪ dʒɪŋ /

adjective

causing or capable of causing damages; harmful; injurious.

Other Word Forms

damagingly adverb
nondamaging adjective
nondamagingly adverb
undamaging adjective

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.

The capsule's angle of approach had to be precise: too shallow and Orion might skip off the atmosphere like a stone off water; too steep and the heat would be damaging.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

But it "criticised all parties to the dispute for allowing it to play out publicly", saying the "damaging internal dispute" had "severely impacted the charity's reputation".

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Though among the most damaging storms ever to hit Louisiana, it left the camps largely intact, owners say.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The recent rally began days before the cease-fire agreement during which there was also evidence that higher oil prices were having a less damaging impact on equities.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

I don’t know how anyone could want to cut it for wands, but that explains why magic is corrupt—making wands requires damaging something rare and powerful.

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

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