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 says the explosion injured his leg, but some people near him were killed.

From BBC

“It’s a miracle no one was more seriously injured,” McShain said.

From Salon

The man, in his 30s, was injured after being hit with a ball bearing, a small metal projectile fired by catapults.

From BBC

It’s unclear exactly how he was injured, but his lawyers say that Rovidio Marin had been at the car wash on Aug. 27, when immigration agents doing a “roving patrol” stormed in and raided it.

From Los Angeles Times

The ban was intended to help reduce the number of people injured by dogs, only the overall figures have continued rising.

From BBC

Related Words

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