critically damaging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "critically damaging" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that causes significant harm or negative impact, often in a serious context. Example: "The report highlighted the critically damaging effects of pollution on marine life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He was not so circumspect earlier, when he made a series of daily attacks on one of the candidates, Mr. Hevesi, which many Democrats believe were critically damaging.

The New York Times

As a result, both countries overdrew the water that was available, critically damaging the environment and their own long-term water security.

Harvard University

While the debate will probably not be critically damaging to Mr. Perry, his odds of upending Mr. Romney have continued to lengthen.

The New York Times

When it was comfortably above $100£6565) per barrel, making the case for a carbon floor price – designed to raise the cost of pollution and make clean investment more attractive – was vulnerable to the argument that while the economy was still ticking over, the extra cost may be critically damaging.

The Guardian

Speculation has been that Toyota will be forced to announce higher prices in Japan - a move even Toyota acknowledges could be critically damaging for an already sluggish Japanese market.

Huffington Post

Soon after Flight 825 took off, a group of ZIPRA guerrillas scored a direct hit on its starboard wing with a Soviet-made Strela 2 surface-to-air infrared homing missile, critically damaging the aircraft and forcing an emergency landing.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"They've critically damaged the coalition that has run this Board for the last year.

The New York Times

Some aerospace experts speculate that the debris, about the size of a briefcase, could have critically damaged the left wing.

The New York Times

I may be going out on limb here, but I think his reputation and authority might be critically damaged.

The Guardian - Opinion

Relations with the West, though strained by recent events in Tibet, have not been critically damaged.

The Economist

The intrinsic apoptotic pathway becomes activated when cells are critically damaged.

Bone Cancer Progression and Therapeutic Approaches

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "critically damaging", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being damaged and the severe impact of that damage. For instance, "The flood was critically damaging to the region's infrastructure."

Common error

Avoid using "critically damaging" for minor inconveniences. Reserve it for situations where the damage has severe, long-lasting consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critically damaging" primarily functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun, emphasizing the severity of the damage being caused. Ludwig confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

17%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Science

16%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "critically damaging" is a valid and usable compound adjective used to describe something that causes significant harm. Ludwig AI confirms this. While not exceedingly common, it appears in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and academic writing. When using "critically damaging", it's important to reserve it for situations with truly severe and lasting negative consequences, and the phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

severely detrimental

Emphasizes the degree of harm caused; 'severely' implies a strong negative effect, more formal.

gravely harmful

Highlights the serious and potentially irreversible nature of the harm; more emphatic.

extremely detrimental

Focuses on the highly unfavorable nature of the impact, similar in intensity.

seriously harmful

Indicates a considerable level of damage or danger, less intense.

substantially impairing

Highlights the reduction in function or quality as a result of the damage.

significantly weakening

Focuses on the reduction of strength or stability caused by the damage.

majorly affecting

Emphasizes the scale and importance of the impact, less formal.

badly affecting

Describes the effect of harm in a less formal expression

highly destructive

Implies the large amount of physical damage with the effect.

seriously undermining

Highlights the weakening of a foundation or principle because of the effect.

FAQs

How can I use "critically damaging" in a sentence?

Use "critically damaging" to describe something causing severe harm or negative impact. For example, "The cyberattack was "critically damaging" to the company's reputation".

What can I say instead of "critically damaging"?

You can use alternatives like "severely detrimental", "gravely harmful", or "extremely detrimental" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "critically damaging" or "critically damaged"?

"Critically damaging" describes something that is causing damage, while "critically damaged" describes something that has been damaged. For example, "The virus was "critically damaging" to the system" versus "The system was "critically damaged" by the virus".

What's the difference between "critically damaging" and "seriously damaging"?

"Critically damaging" suggests a more severe and potentially irreparable level of harm than "seriously damaging". "Critically damaging" implies a higher degree of severity and potential for long-term consequences.