further hurt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "further hurt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of causing additional pain or distress to someone or something. Example: "The harsh criticism only served to further hurt her already fragile self-esteem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The strikes further hurt an already damaged economy.

The New York Times

"His own personal problems further hurt the city's image.

The New York Times

My family tried to spare me any further hurt.

The New York Times - Magazine

The fear of that will then further hurt economic spirits.

The New York Times

The announcement, combined with a history of red ink, further hurt the company's public image.

The New York Times

It also expressed concern that labor disruption stemming from the deals would further hurt AMR.

The New York Times

The association said a seasonally flat first quarter was further hurt this year by geopolitical uncertainty.

The New York Times

That will further hurt sales of digital still and video cameras.

The New York Times

In America, credit-card defaults are ticking up, which will further hurt asset-backed securities.

The Economist

Unrest in the Bekaa Valley would further hurt tourism and agriculture.

The New York Times

The news further hurt the share price as the bank reported weak third-quarter results.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "further hurt", ensure that the context clearly establishes the initial negative impact or damage that is being exacerbated. This provides a clear understanding of the additional harm being caused.

Common error

Avoid using "further hurt" when there's no pre-existing negative situation. For example, instead of saying "The unexpected bonus further hurt employee morale" (if morale was already good), use a different phrasing to reflect the actual impact.

Linguistic Context

"Further hurt" functions as a verb phrase indicating that an action or event intensifies or worsens an existing negative condition or state. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable expression, as shown in various examples from its database.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

7%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "further hurt" is a grammatically correct and very common expression used to describe the act of exacerbating an existing negative situation. Ludwig AI’s analysis confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reliable sources, particularly in News & Media. While the phrase is considered grammatically correct it's important to use it in contexts that clearly establish the initial harm. Alternatives like "worsen the situation" or "exacerbate the damage" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

worsen the situation

A general phrase for making a situation worse.

inflict further damage

Directly indicates the action of causing more harm or damage.

compound the problem

Indicates that an existing problem is being made worse by additional factors.

amplify the harm

Focuses on increasing the extent or effect of the harm.

exacerbate the damage

Highlights the worsening of existing damage, whether physical or metaphorical.

contribute to the decline

Suggests that something is aiding in a process of decline or deterioration.

aggravate the pain

Focuses specifically on increasing physical or emotional pain.

deepen the wound

Suggests making an emotional or psychological wound more profound.

intensify the suffering

Emphasizes the increasing severity of suffering or distress.

add insult to injury

Implies that something is done that makes a bad situation even worse, often through humiliation or disrespect.

FAQs

How can I use "further hurt" in a sentence?

You can use "further hurt" to describe something that worsens an existing negative situation. For example, "The economic downturn could "further hurt" small businesses."

What are some alternatives to using "further hurt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "worsen the situation", "exacerbate the damage", or "compound the problem".

Is it correct to say "further hurt" or should I use a different phrasing?

The phrase "further hurt" is grammatically correct and commonly used. According to Ludwig AI, it effectively conveys the meaning of increasing harm or damage. You can confidently use it in your writing.

What's the difference between "further hurt" and "additional pain"?

"Further hurt" implies worsening an existing negative situation, while "additional pain" simply means adding more pain. "Further hurt" carries a stronger sense of exacerbating something already bad. For example, "The criticism "further hurt" her feelings" suggests her feelings were already hurt, whereas "additional pain" just means more pain was added.