injure
[in-jer]
- to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair: to injure one's hand.
- to do wrong or injustice to.
- to wound or offend: to injure a friend's feelings.
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Origin of injure
Synonyms
See more synonyms for injure on Thesaurus.com1. spoil, ruin, break, mar. 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. 2. maltreat, abuse.
Antonyms
1. benefit.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for injure
Contemporary Examples
The al Qaeda-linked gunmen shot back, but only managed to injure one officer before they were taken out.
Even a relatively small 250-pound bomb could kill or injure friendly troops who are within 650 feet of the explosion.
Beijing, famously, launched a coordinated and sustained attack against Google a half decade ago to injure its business in China.
Sony Blames North Korea for Hacking, but Washington Left Them Completely VulnerableGordon G. Chang
December 3, 2014
The children in these stories then went on to injure themselves by falling off of old bridges or cutting themselves.
Not mentioned in the video: Firearms kill or injure 10,000 American children each year.
Historical Examples
We are bound in all our visits to bring relief to invalids, and not to injure them.
The Imaginary InvalidMolire
This commandment forbids us to kill or injure other persons or ourselves.
An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismJoseph Stump
Any turbidness or impurity in the water will injure the clearness of the sweetmeats.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
This warmth of mine might injure you in your husband's opinion.
Tales And Novels, Volume 8 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
I am not that which you call good, but it is impossible that I injure you.
The Inn at the Red OakLatta Griswold
injure
- to cause physical or mental harm or suffering to; hurt or wound
- to offend, esp by an injustice
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Word Origin
C16: back formation from injury
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for injure
v.
mid-15c., "do an injustice to, dishonor," probably a back-formation from injury, or else from Middle French injuriier, from Latin injurare. Injury also served as a verb (late 15c.). Related: Injured; injuring.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper