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hurt

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adjective

hurt

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word hurt distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of hurt are damage, harm, impair, injure, and mar. While all these words mean "to affect injuriously," hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

hurt by their callous remarks

When can damage be used instead of hurt?

Although the words damage and hurt have much in common, damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

a table damaged in shipping

When might harm be a better fit than hurt?

The words harm and hurt can be used in similar contexts, but harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

careful not to harm the animals

When could impair be used to replace hurt?

The words impair and hurt are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

years of smoking had impaired his health

When would injure be a good substitute for hurt?

While in some cases nearly identical to hurt, injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

badly injured in an accident

When is mar a more appropriate choice than hurt?

While the synonyms mar and hurt are close in meaning, 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 hurt
Verb
On multiple occasions, team officials have noted how none of the seven pitchers who have gotten hurt since the end of spring camp suffered relatively serious injuries. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2025 But potential changes to trade privileges would hurt them Strydom was part of Orania’s delegation to the US in late March to push for this goal. Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 21 May 2025
Noun
As the Avs squandered a two-goal lead in Game 7, this went beyond hurt. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 May 2025 Mostert spent most of last season hurt and has been injury-prone his entire career. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hurt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurt
Verb
  • Can Joe hoist his aching knees and weary butt back in the competitive saddle?
    Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 22 May 2025
  • But Kealoha offers Lilo a wellspring of sadness and aching loneliness just beneath the surface of her more impish qualities.
    EW.com, EW.com, 20 May 2025
Verb
  • In addition to direct contact, Toxoplasma may also damage sperm because the infection promotes chronic inflammation.
    Bill Sullivan, The Conversation, 28 May 2025
  • The fire began on the third floor, severely damaging the entire level, while water damage affected the floors below.
    Samantha Moilanen, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Several people were injured in a boat crash in the Hamptons on Sunday night, and the boat’s captain was arrested for boating under the influence, police said.
    Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025
  • At least 12 people were killed and dozens injured in the attacks.
    Jackie Northam, NPR, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • See how these teens are grieving — and healing — together.
    Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 29 May 2025
  • You are allowed to grieve the version of love that existed uniquely between the two of you.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
Noun
  • The organization provides up to eight free mental health and counseling sessions to youth and their families who have experienced gun violence, abuse or emotional distress.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 May 2025
  • Noumea’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre notified Carnival Splendor about a distress call from a catamaran while the ship was traveling south of New Caledonia on Thursday, according to a news release.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Andrew Tate, 38, faces charges related to three women that include rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain.
    Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2025
  • Read More: How Online Adoption Ads Prey on Pregnant People Positioning Safe Haven Baby Boxes as a solution to the problem of unwanted pregnancy also ignores important historical lessons about the harms caused by anonymous infant relinquishment.
    Time, Time, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Things got worse after the emergence of Covid, which ground global trade to a halt and exposed how much the United States, and the rest of the world, needed China for everything from surgical masks to pain medicines.
    David Pierson, New York Times, 10 May 2025
  • The brutal coincidence for the Cavs on Tuesday night: While Haliburton fought through injury to be the hero, Cleveland was missing three of its key players to pain tolerance injuries.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 7 May 2025
Verb
  • However, relatively decent growth fueled by Putin's record military spending has been marred by inflation and a worker shortage impacted by those fleeing the draft and troop losses in Ukraine as experts warn of longer terms problems for the economy.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • Albania, which has started full membership negotiations with the European Union, has been plagued in its post-communist era with corruption that has marred its democratic, economic and social development.
    Llazar Semini, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurt. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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