damage
/ˈdamɪdʒ
/noun
1 [mass noun] Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of something: bombing caused extensive damage to the town...
- Mr Smith said severe physical illness had resulted in physical damage to the brain.
- Suspected items are not to be used as weapons or to cause bodily harm or damage to personal property in any way.
- Luckily for us this incident had caused no harm or any damage to the equipment.
Synonyms
harm, injury, destruction, vandalization, vandalism;
impairment, defilement, desecration, defacement, disfigurement, scarring, mutilation, vitiation, detriment;
ruin, havoc, devastation;
wear and tear, battering, friction, erosion, attrition, corrosion, abrasion, deterioration, degeneration
rare detrition
1.1Detrimental effects: the damage to his reputation was considerable...
- The organization needs to be punished both in the courts and at the ballot box and if this happens then there will be no lasting damage to the peace process.
- Jim was a sneaky little manipulator, and he could do a lot of damage to me behind my back.
- I could find no discernible psychological damage or mental health difficulties.
2 (damages) A sum of money claimed or awarded in compensation for a loss or an injury: she was awarded $284,000 in damages...
- Before his death, he issued a writ against the defendant claiming damages for personal injuries.
- He or she sues not only for personal injury but for damages for the loss or destruction of the motor vehicle.
- Nor do I think it is necessary to achieve just satisfaction of the claimant's claim that damages should be awarded.
Synonyms
compensation, recompense, restitution, redress, reparation(s);
repayment, reimbursement, remuneration, requital, indemnification, indemnity, satisfaction
North American informal comp
archaic guerdon, meed
rare solatium
verb [with object]
1Inflict physical harm on (something) so as to impair its value, usefulness, or normal function: the car was badly damaged in the accident...
- Lomax's car was badly damaged and had a smashed windscreen and two shredded tyres.
- This can result in a severely damaged thyroid gland that functions poorly or not at all.
- The empty house became the target for vandals, and five years ago it was badly damaged in a fire.
Synonyms
harm, do damage to, injure, mar, deface, mutilate, mangle, impair, blemish, disfigure, vandalize, blight, spoil, defile, desecrate;
tamper with, sabotage, disrupt, play havoc with, vitiate;
ruin, devastate, destroy, wreck, cripple, drive a nail into the coffin of
North American informal trash
rare disfeature
1.1Have a detrimental effect on: the scandal could seriously damage his career...
- Its effects will be particularly damaging on small businesses and entrepreneurs.
- The slur made by your critic is a very serious and damaging one to the organization and its unconditional generosity.
- She does not want her name used for fear of damaging her husband's future career.
Synonyms
harmful, detrimental, injurious, hurtful, inimical, dangerous, destructive, ruinous, calamitous, disastrous, deleterious, pernicious, ill, bad, evil, baleful, malign, corrupting, malignant, adverse, undesirable, prejudicial, unfavourable, unfortunate, counterproductive;
unhealthy, unwholesome, poisonous, cancerous, noxious, environmentally unfriendly
literary malefic, maleficent
rare prejudicious
Phrases
the damage is done
what's the damage?
Origin
Middle English: from Old French, from dam, damne 'loss or damage', from Latin damnum 'loss or hurt'; compare with damn.