View synonyms for damage

damage

[ dam-ij ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness:
The storm did considerable damage to the crops.
Synonyms: loss
damages, Law. the estimated money equivalent for detriment or injury sustained.
Often damages. Informal. cost; expense; charge:
What are the damages for the lubrication job on my car?

verb (used with object)

, dam·aged, dam·ag·ing.

to cause damage to; injure or harm; reduce the value or usefulness of:
He damaged the saw on a nail.
Synonyms: hurt, impair

verb (used without object)

, dam·aged, dam·ag·ing.

to become damaged:
Soft wood damages easily.

damage

/ ˈdæmɪdʒ /

noun

injury or harm impairing the function or condition of a person or thing
loss of something desirable
informal.
cost; expense (esp in the phrase what's the damage? )

verb

tr to cause damage to
intr to suffer damage

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Derived Forms

ˈdamagingly, adverb
ˌdamageaˈbility, noun
ˈdamageable, adjective
ˈdamaging, adjective
ˈdamager, noun

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Other Words From

damage·a·ble adjective
damage·a·ble·ness damage·a·bili·ty noun
damag·er noun
non·damage·a·ble adjective
pre·damage noun verb (used with object) predamaged predamaging
quasi-damaged adjective
re·damage verb (used with object) redamaged redamaging
un·damage·a·ble adjective
un·damaged adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of damage¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, equivalent to dam (from Latin damnum “damage, fine”) + -age -age; damn

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Word History and Origins

Origin of damage¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin damnum injury, loss, fine

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Idioms and Phrases

do one wrong (damage)
the damage

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Synonym Study

Damage, detriment, harm, mischief refer to injuries of various kinds. Damage is the kind of injury or the effect of injury that directly impairs appearance, value, usefulness, soundness, etc.: Fire causes damage to property. Detriment is a falling off from an original condition as the result of damage, depreciation, devaluation, etc.: Overeating is a detriment to health. Harm may denote either physical hurt or mental, moral, or spiritual injury: bodily harm; harm to one's self-confidence. Mischief may be damage, harm, trouble, or misfortune caused by a person, especially if maliciously: an enemy who would do one mischief.

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Example Sentences

“At the moment there are no signs of damage,” Marino told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

If the operation caused no physical damage, it would be in bounds.

From The Daily Beast

That means any response that could result in physical damage inside North Korea is off the table.

From The Daily Beast

We could theoretically cause a lot of damage should we take that route.

From The Daily Beast

The building had to be rebuilt in 1963 after extensive damage from the Second World War was finally deemed irreparable.

From The Daily Beast

The “Compañia General de Tabacos” lost about ₱30,000 in cash in addition to the damage done to their offices and property.

From Project Gutenberg

Never grasp a Fern plant from above and try to pull it away, as this will be almost sure to result in damage.

From Project Gutenberg

Great care is necessary when removing the Ferns to do as little damage as possible to the roots.

From Project Gutenberg

If mistakes are made they happen rarely and the resources of the accepting houses are easily able to repair the damage.

From Project Gutenberg

Tornadoes occurred in Alabama, Missouri and Illinois, accompanied with extensive damage to property.

From Project Gutenberg

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

dam damage control

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