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damage Definition

dam·age (damij)

noun

  1. injury or harm to a person or thing, resulting in a loss in soundness or value
  2. Law money claimed by, or ordered paid to, a person to compensate for injury or loss caused by the wrong of the opposite party or parties
  3. Informal cost or expense

Etymology: ME < OFr < dam < L damnum, loss, injury: see damn

transitive verb -·aged, -·ag·ing

to do damage to

intransitive verb

to incur damage

damage Related Forms
dam·age·able adjective
damage Synonyms

damage

n.

  1. Injury

    harm, hurt, impairment, wound, bruise, bane, wrong, infliction, casualty, detriment, deprivation, affliction, accident, catastrophe, adversity, outrage, hardship, disturbance, mutilation, mishap, mischance, evil, blow, devastation, destruction, mischief, stroke, loss, disservice, reverse, weakening, ruination, collapse, disablement, crippling, suffering, illness; see also disaster, injury 1, misfortune 2.

    Antonyms blessing*, benefit*, boon. *

  2. Loss occasioned by injury

    ruin, breakage, ruined goods, wreckage, destruction, cost, loss, waste, spoliation, shrinkage, depreciation, deprivation, dry rot, pollution, corruption, blemish, contamination, ravage, atrophy, adulteration, defacement, scratch, scar, vandalism, vitiation, degeneration, canker, deterioration, disintegration, havoc, erosion, disrepair, debasement, corrosion, discoloration, decay, wear and tear; see also destruction 2.

    Antonyms repair*, profit*, recompense.

damage Synonyms

damage

v.

  1. To impair the value or usefulness of

    ruin, wreck, hurt, harm, injure, impair, destroy, bleach, fade, water-soak, tarnish, burn, scorch, drench, dirty, rot, smash, batter, discolor, mutilate, scratch, smudge, scuff, crack, chip, bang up, abuse, maltreat, mistreat, mar, maul, deface, disfigure, vandalize, mangle, ravage, scathe, contaminate, crumple, crush, dismantle, cheapen, blight, disintegrate, pollute, hamstring, sap, stain, tear, rip, fray, undermine, weaken, gnaw, corrode, break, split, stab, rend, slash, pierce, puncture, mildew, cripple, disable, rust, warp, maim, lacerate, wound, taint, incapacitate, bruise, spoil, wreak havoc on, wear away, defile, wrong, infect, tamper with, mess up*, gum up*; see also break 2, destroy 1, hurt 1.

  2. To debase

    pervert, vitiate, degrade; see corrupt 1.

  3. To slander

    malign, calumniate, disparage; see slander. See syn. study at hurt.

damage Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • cause: Large rock left in the road caused damage to moving vehicle.
  • suffer: My pelvis suffered some damage from my first baby 1 year ago.
  • inflict: The damage inflicted on Labor's campaign by sniping between these two showed neither man in a good light.
  • prevent: It is your responsibility to wrap the product adequately to prevent damage.
  • sustain: If there is still activity in the brain stem, a person is considered to have sustained brain damage, rather than brain death.
  • repair: One year on, the relief effort continues to repair the damage caused by the tsunami.

Noun used with modifier

  • collateral: What is termed ' collateral damage ' is due to lack of planning.
  • brain: In some cases, the acute illness subsides into a chronic state, which may lead to serious brain damage.
  • liver: The amount of alcohol that can cause liver damage seems to vary widely between individuals.
  • nerve: Nerve damage can interfere with the activity of the sweat glands, making it difficult for the body to regulate temperature.
  • DNA: In this study, Australian researchers found that UVA rays caused DNA damage to the cells deep within the skin.
  • kidney: Acute kidney damage can occur as a rare side effect of some medications and other rare conditions.

Adjective modifier

  • consequential: Prezzybox.com is not liable for product misuse or indirect, special or consequential damages.
  • accidental: Optional Buildings Accidental Cover You can also cover your home against accidental damage to your building.
  • criminal: Some were released without charge - others were charged with swimming in the dock or attempted criminal damage... .
  • irreversible: Degenerative brain diseases are marked by progressive, irreversible damage to cells of the central nervous system.
  • severe: Severe damage was sustained, making it necessary to come to anchor in the river.
  • serious: In some cases, the acute illness subsides into a chronic state, which may lead to serious brain damage.

Modifies a noun

  • waiver: Savings plus program to say what damage waiver benefits.

Preposition: in

  • transit: We've sourced quality, attractive and strong mailing tubes to help prevent possible damage in transit.
damage Quotes

The branch of economics dealing with how to enrich a new nation ('economic development' was the title) was actually forbidden by the courts, on the grounds that no university could pay for the damage its teachers did.

—Stigler, GeorgeJoseph

Browse dictionary entries near damage

  1. DAMA
  2. dam
  3. Daly City
  4. Daly
  5. Daltonism
  6. dalton
  7. dalmatic
  8. Dalmatian
  9. Dalmatia
  10. Dalmane
  1. damaged
  2. damages
  3. daman
  4. Daman and Diu
  5. Damanhûr
  6. damar
  7. Damascene
  8. Damascus
  9. Damascus steel
  10. damask