harmnoun [ U ]
uk/hɑːm/us/hɑːrm/B2 physical or other injury or damage:
Both deny conspiring to cause actual bodily harm.
A mistake like that will do his credibility a lot of harm.
Missing a meal once in a while never did anyone any harm.
You could always ask Jim if they need any more staff in his office - (there's) no harm in asking (= no one will be annoyed and you might benefit).
She meant no harm (= did not intend to offend) - she was only joking.
She was frightened by the experience but she came to no harm (= was not hurt).
More examples
- There's no harm in applying for other jobs, but if I were you, I wouldn't advertise the fact at work.
- Huge projects designed to aid poorer countries can sometimes do more harm than good.
- I'm sure he's well-intentioned - he wouldn't mean any harm.
- Modernizing historic buildings can often do more harm than good.
- Should any harm befall me on my journey, you may open this letter.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging and spoiling
- adulterate
- alloy
- at the expense of sb idiom
- at-risk
- bandh
- bang up sb/sth
- gild the lily idiom
- gloss
- gnaw
- gnaw away at sth
- go west idiom
- goonda
- poison
- ruin
- scourge
- shatter
- shoot sth up
- shred
- sour
- tell on sb
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Injuring and injuries
Idiom(s)
do more harm than good
out of harm's way
harmverb [ T ]
uk/hɑːm/us/hɑːrm/B2 to hurt someone or damage something:
Thankfully no one was harmed in the accident.
The government's reputation has already been harmed by a series of scandals.
More examples
- Research shows that it is not divorce per se that harms children, but the continuing conflict between parents.
- The oil that discharged into the sea seriously harmed a lot of birds and animals.
- She only buys dolphin-friendly tuna fish that is caught without harming dolphins.
- If you harm her, you're going to have the police to reckon with.
- He claims that the report has harmed his reputation.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Damaging and spoiling
- adulterate
- alloy
- at the expense of sb idiom
- at-risk
- bandh
- bang up sb/sth
- gild the lily idiom
- gloss
- gnaw
- gnaw away at sth
- go west idiom
- goonda
- poison
- ruin
- scourge
- shatter
- shoot sth up
- shred
- sour
- tell on sb
See more results »
Idiom(s)
harm a hair on sb's head