What Does "DAMAGE" Mean? The Complete Damage Definition
The meaning of DAMAGE is harm, injury, or loss caused to something or someone. As a noun, DAMAGE definition covers physical harm to an object, structure, or body, as well as less visible harm such as emotional, financial, or reputational damage. As a verb, it means to harm, impair, or weaken something. In some contexts, people also use damage in phrases like “damage control,” where it refers to limiting the effects of a problem rather than causing harm.
The DAMAGE meaning is common in everyday English, law, business, and news reporting. In casual use, you might talk about “damage to the car,” while in a broader sense you could discuss “damage to trust” or “damage to the environment.” The word damage comes from Old French damager, ultimately from Latin damnum, meaning loss or harm.
Damage Synonyms: Words Similar to DAMAGE
DAMAGE synonyms include several words that overlap in meaning, but each has its own nuance.
- harm — A broad synonym for injury or injury-like effects, often used for people, feelings, or health.
- injure — Usually refers to physical hurt or bodily damage, so it is more specific than damage.
- impair — Suggests reducing function or effectiveness, especially for skills, health, or systems.
- mar — Means to spoil appearance or quality, often in a lighter or more cosmetic way.
- harmful — An adjective rather than a direct synonym, but it describes something that causes damage or injury.
- ruin — Implies severe damage that makes something unusable or badly broken.
- hurt — Common in everyday speech for physical or emotional damage, but less formal than damage.
How to Use "DAMAGE" in a Sentence: Real Examples
Here are a few clear ways to use DAMAGE in a sentence.
- The storm caused major damage to the roof and power lines.
- Smoking can damage your lungs over time.
- The company tried to limit the damage after the bad review went public.
- “Damage control” is often used when leaders respond to a public mistake or scandal.
DAMAGE in NYT Connections #1104 — Why Did It Appear?
In NYT Connections #1104 on 2026-04-03, DAMAGE appeared in the Purple category titled "___ CONTROL" alongside CRUISE, GROUND, and MISSION. The clue was not about the basic DAMAGE meaning at all; instead, it belonged to the phrase , which is a common English expression. That is why players who only thought about DAMAGE definition or DAMAGE meaning in word games may have found it confusing.