INJURE Synonyms: 116 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of injure are damage , harm , hurt , impair , and mar . While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success. // badly injured in an accident

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

The words damage and injure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness. // a table damaged in shipping

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

Although the words harm and injure have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss. // careful not to harm the animals

Q: When can 'hurt' be used instead of 'injure'?

In some situations, the words hurt and injure are roughly equivalent. However, 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 'injure'?

The words impair and injure can be used in similar contexts, but impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution. // years of smoking had impaired his health

Q: When could 'mar' be used to replace 'injure'?

The meanings of mar and injure largely overlap; however, mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement. // the text is marred by many typos

injure

verb

ˈin-jər

Definition of injure

as in to damage

to cause bodily damage to injured himself while skiing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mar

to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of the agent's treachery has injured our national security for years to come

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word injure distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of injure are damage, harm, hurt, impair, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When might damage be a better fit than injure?

The words damage and injure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When is it sensible to use harm instead of injure?

Although the words harm and injure have much in common, harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When can hurt be used instead of injure?

In some situations, the words hurt and injure are roughly equivalent. However, 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 injure?

The words impair and injure can be used in similar contexts, but impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When could mar be used to replace injure?

The meanings of mar and injure largely overlap; however, 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 injure Two people were killed and others were injured in the attack on Larak Island, Iran state media reported. — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Primarily a practice squad player, Stick was added to the active roster after Michael Penix was injured in November. — Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Gifford is back despite being injured during most of training camp after making the Pro Bowl as a special-teams player last year. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Amdur also spoke of July 4, 2022 of the Highland Park Independence Day parade shooting which took seven lives at Port Clinton Square with many injured. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for injure

Recent Examples of Synonyms for injure

Verb

Maiquetía International airport, outside Caracas, was damaged from twin earthquakes on June 24 that devastated the country.

— Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
The flooding inundated areas along the Trishuli River, burying some buildings and damaging bridges and roadways.

— Jon Haworth, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of damage

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

Verb

Even if Korea can maintain 2% economic growth over the next two decades, consumption growth gradually weakens and eventually turns negative, according to Goldman’s long-term modeling.

— Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026
Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Riggs said the Teamsters’ safety argument is weakened by the inconsistent safety record of human truck drivers, who have fallen asleep at the wheel or driven while distracted or otherwise impaired.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2026
Summary Quality sleep is crucial for leaders' performance, yet unpredictable schedules often lead to sleep deprivation, thus impairing vital cognitive functions like memory.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of impair

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injunctions

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injured

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“Injure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/injure. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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