HARM Synonyms: 153 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'harm' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of harm are damage , hurt , impair , injure , and mar . While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss. // careful not to harm the animals

Q: When might 'damage' be a better fit than 'harm'?

While the synonyms damage and harm are close in meaning, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness. // a table damaged in shipping

Q: When is it sensible to use 'hurt' instead of 'harm'?

The words hurt and harm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings. // hurt by their callous remarks

Q: When would 'impair' be a good substitute for 'harm'?

The meanings of impair and harm largely overlap; however, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution. // years of smoking had impaired his health

Q: In what contexts can 'injure' take the place of 'harm'?

The words injure and harm can be used in similar contexts, but injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success. // badly injured in an accident

Q: When can 'mar' be used instead of 'harm'?

While in some cases nearly identical to harm , mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement. // the text is marred by many typos

harm 1 of 2

noun

ˈhärm

Definition of harm

as in damage

something that causes loss or pain you were lucky to survive the fire without harm no harm in trying

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harm

2 of 2

verb

as in to damage

to cause bodily damage to though she wasn't harmed by the flying glass, she slipped and fell on a piece and cut her hand

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as in to injure

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the company's reputation has been harmed by allegations of crooked accounting

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word harm distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of harm are damage, hurt, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When might damage be a better fit than harm?

While the synonyms damage and harm are close in meaning, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When is it sensible to use hurt instead of harm?

The words hurt and harm are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When would impair be a good substitute for harm?

The meanings of impair and harm largely overlap; however, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

In what contexts can injure take the place of harm?

The words injure and harm can be used in similar contexts, but injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When can mar be used instead of harm?

While in some cases nearly identical to harm, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

the text is marred by many typos

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of harm

Noun

The lawsuit, organized by the attorneys general of 29 US states, alleged that Meta executives like Mark Zuckerberg created a system that abused data collected from minors, while feigning ignorance about the harms their platforms caused. — Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026 His government is now preparing for levies that will inflict economic harm on both sides of the border. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2026

Verb

In that memo, Colby wrote that maintaining 35% of CHMR would address investigations into civilian harm, reports to Congress and payments to those harmed. — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 The compounds and particles emitted by wildfires can harm human health, including the lungs, heart and organs, and include known carcinogens. — Michael A. Robinson, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for harm

Recent Examples of Synonyms for harm

Noun

If an account remains past due for several months, it could eventually be closed and cause further damage to your credit.

— Mike Winters, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
One year before his triumph in the 2026 US Open, Clark missed the cut at the same tournament and took his frustrations out on the Oakmont Country Club locker room, causing enough damage that the famous club outside Pittsburgh banned him for life.

— Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of damage

Noun

CoQ10 may indirectly improve athletic performance by reducing fatigue, pain, swelling, and muscle injury caused by strenuous exercise.

— Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 26 Aug. 2026
At the same time, writing the final chapter of recovery only 10 days after an injury is far too early.

— Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of injury

Verb

Going forward, the company will need to continue executing and deliver a higher-for-longer revenue acceleration to truly silence the bears and prove AI is helping, not hurting, its business.

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
In addition to hurting consumers, Bird asserts that the uncertainty, along with Paramount’s $7 million ticking fee, will pull down an industry that’s just starting to get back on its feet.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurt

Verb

Consider each target wounded by crushing knockdowns and then killed by piggy-backers, irrespective of the quality of the quarter.

— Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
Aargau Cantonal Police said one person was killed and five others were wounded after shots were fired at the event in the town of Aarau, a scenic area known for its lush valleys, medieval castles and thermal springs.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of wound

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“Harm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harm. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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verb

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