damaging

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "damaging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an adjective to describe something that is causing harm or damage. For example: "The storm caused damaging winds that tore the roof off the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

As the Bank struggles to find a way of controlling house prices without increasing interest rates and damaging the recovery, I am struck by a recent observation from my acquaintance Philipp Hildebrand, former governor of the Swiss Central Bank.

The Guardian - Business

Osborne used his statement to urge unions to call off the strike: "I would once again ask the unions why they are damaging our economy at a time like this – and putting jobs at risk.

The Guardian

The band's singer Michael Stipe and Buck's wife Stephanie burst into tears as the jury cleared him of a charge of being drunk on an aircraft last April, two counts of common assault, and one charge of damaging BA crockery.

The Guardian

And parents who reported the violation of their children were often fearful lest they themselves be seen to be damaging the church they loved.

The Guardian

Related: Is Carly Fiorina the GOP's best hope of damaging Hillary Clinton?

The Guardian

Standard & Poor's said the drawn out negotiations between Athens and its creditors were damaging the economy and had resulted in a fresh cut in Greece's credit rating, which is already at junk-bond status.

The Guardian - Business

So Osborne's cuts will boost the City, and transfer money away from productive investment and into idle corporate piggy banks, thus damaging the economy and leaving it even more City-dominated than before.

The Guardian - Opinion

Cameron sought to contrast his party's support for free markets and entrepreneurs with Labour's 1970s-stylee socialism", describing Ed Miliband's policies as "damaging, nonsensical and twisted".

The Guardian - Opinion

Rather than damaging the filtering system, as in ordinary CKD, this disease seems to have an impact on the tubules – the part of the kidney where the composition of the urine is determined.

The Guardian

Of the voters they polled, 10% of them hadn't seen Selma, potentially further damaging its chances.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

When confronted by the gruesome reality of life for some of society's most vulnerable and damaged (not to mention violent and damaging) young people, there is a temptation to wring one's hands and say: "Well, what can you do?" In this case, the answer is clear and compelling.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "damaging", be specific about what is being damaged and the extent of the damage. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "damaging" as a vague descriptor. Instead of saying "the policy was damaging", specify what aspects of the policy caused harm and to whom.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "damaging" is as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes harm or injury. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in this context, confirming its role as a descriptive adjective.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "damaging" functions as an adjective to describe something that causes harm or injury. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It is very commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts, with a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. While "damaging" is a versatile term, it's essential to be specific about the nature and extent of the damage being caused to enhance clarity. Alternatives like "harmful", "injurious", and "detrimental" can be used to provide a nuance of meaning based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

harmful

Focuses on the potential to cause harm, either physical or metaphorical.

injurious

Emphasizes the aspect of causing injury or damage, often in a more formal context.

detrimental

Highlights the negative impact or disadvantage caused.

deleterious

Refers to something subtly or unexpectedly harmful.

adverse

Indicates an unfavorable or negative effect.

destructive

Focuses on the act of destroying or causing significant damage.

pernicious

Highlights a gradual or subtle harm that can be difficult to detect initially.

devastating

Emphasizes the overwhelming and catastrophic nature of the damage.

unfavorable

Indicates a negative or disadvantageous outcome.

counterproductive

Highlights actions that yield results contrary to the intended goal.

FAQs

How can I use "damaging" in a sentence?

You can use "damaging" to describe something that causes harm or damage. For example, "The scandal had a "damaging" effect on his reputation".

What can I say instead of "damaging"?

You can use alternatives like "harmful", "injurious", or "detrimental" depending on the context.

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

"Damaging" describes something that is causing damage, while "damaged" describes something that has already been harmed. For example, "The "damaging" storm caused the tree to become "damaged"".

What's the difference between "damaging" and "destructive"?

"Damaging" implies causing harm or impairment, while "destructive" suggests a more complete or irreversible form of ruin. Destructive implies stronger damage.