damaging

Meaning

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Having a harmful effect on something, so that its condition, success or standing gets worse.

   Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a damaging storm, the storm was damaging.

   Patterns

   • damaging to something
   • a damaging effect on something

   The leaked emails were damaging to the senator's campaign.

   Years of damaging winds had stripped the roof of its tiles.

   Constant criticism can have a damaging effect on a child's confidence.

Word forms

Common combinations

damaging effect

The drought had a damaging effect on local farms.

potentially damaging

She deleted the potentially damaging photos before the interview.

damaging to your health

Skipping sleep for weeks is damaging to your health.

damaging evidence

The lawyer feared the damaging evidence would reach the jury.

politically damaging

The scandal proved politically damaging for the mayor.

Synonyms and how they differ

harmful

Harmful is the plain, general word, while damaging often suggests a visible loss of quality, reputation or condition.

detrimental

Detrimental is more formal and nearly always followed by to, usually in reports or official writing.

destructive

Destructive points to something that wrecks or ruins outright, whereas damaging can mean a lesser, partial harm.

injurious

Injurious is rare and formal, and usually concerns physical harm or legal wrongs.

Opposites

Word family

damage noun

harm done to something

damage verb

to harm or spoil something

damaged adjective

harmed or broken

damages noun

money paid as compensation for harm

Commonly confused: damaging or damning?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “damaging”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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