injure

[in-jer]

verb (used with object)

injured, injuring 

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

Other Word Forms

• injurable adjective
• injurer noun
• quasi-injured adjective
• reinjure verb (used with object)
• uninjured adjective
• uninjuring adjective
• injured 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

He was seriously injured in the crash and remains hospitalized.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

More work is needed to determine whether human macrophages behave the same way when muscle is injured.

Read more on Science Daily

Receiver Tutu Atwell is eligible to return from injured reserve next week.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The England international missed several weeks injured and is yet to find form following his summer switch from Liverpool.

Read more on Barron's

Aguilar said she did not have information available on whether the two others in the car were injured.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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