damage confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"damage confidence" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when someone has done something to cause a lack of trust or faith in something or someone's abilities. For example, "The poor customer service has damaged our customers' confidence in the company."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

This embarrassing revelation will damage confidence in the current incumbent.

Independent

There had been fears that Paterson's remarks would damage confidence in the UK meat industry.

The Guardian

They might even damage confidence by suggesting panic on the part of the authorities.

The Economist

They damage confidence in individuals, staff groups and organisations, and create a culture of fear and defensiveness.

The Guardian

Failure to do so in a timely way would damage confidence, posing yet another threat to the economy's continued healing.

The New York Times

The worst case is not that the tests are merely irrelevant, but that they actively damage confidence.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Equivocation and watered-down policy has damaged confidence in low-carbon investment.

The Guardian

Irranca-Davies said government inaction was damaging confidence in the food industry.

The Guardian

SSE (formerly Scottish & Southern Energy) warned last week that the referendum was damaging confidence and investment.

The Guardian

Highly publicized cases where auditors gave in to clients have damaged confidence.

The New York Times

But such confusion, verging on paranoia, damages confidence in our broadcasting industry.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the impact of events on markets or public perception, use "damage confidence" to highlight the erosion of trust and stability.

Common error

Instead of saying something vaguely "affects sentiment", specify that something "damages confidence" to convey a more precise impact on trust and stability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "damage confidence" functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, indicating an action that negatively affects trust or belief. Examples from Ludwig AI show it commonly describes events impacting market sentiment, public opinion, or institutional credibility.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "damage confidence" is a common expression used to describe actions or events that reduce trust or belief in something. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media contexts. The phrase functions as a verb phrase followed by a noun, serving to express concern about decisions that negatively impact trust. Related phrases include "erode confidence" and "undermine confidence", offering nuanced alternatives for expressing a decline in assurance. When using this phrase, it's important to be specific about the cause of the damage to confidence to enhance clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harm confidence

A more general term indicating a negative impact on confidence.

reduce confidence

Directly states a decrease in the level of confidence.

erode confidence

Focuses on the gradual wearing away of confidence, rather than a sudden impact.

undermine confidence

Suggests a weakening of the foundation of confidence, making it less stable.

weaken confidence

Indicates making confidence less strong or resilient.

damage trust

Replaces "confidence" with "trust", highlighting the relational aspect of the impact.

shake confidence

Implies a disruption or disturbance to one's confidence, without necessarily destroying it.

jeopardize confidence

Emphasizes the risk or potential loss of confidence.

impair confidence

Suggests a lessening of the quality or strength of confidence.

destroy confidence

Indicates a complete loss of confidence, a more severe outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "damage confidence" in a sentence?

You can use "damage confidence" to describe how an action or event reduces trust or faith. For example, "The scandal significantly "damaged confidence" in the company's leadership".

What are some alternatives to "damage confidence"?

Alternatives include phrases like "erode confidence", "undermine confidence", or "harm confidence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "damage confidence" or "damages confidence"?

"Damage confidence" is used when referring to a general action, while "damages confidence" is used when referring to a specific action that affects confidence, typically when the subject is singular. For example, "The repeated delays damage confidence".

What's the difference between "damage confidence" and "damage trust"?

While similar, "damage confidence" often refers to eroding faith in abilities or systems, whereas "damage trust" typically refers to breaking a relational bond or belief in someone's honesty or reliability.