as in damages
something that causes loss or pain
you were lucky to survive the fire without harm no harm in trying
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1
as in injures
to cause bodily damage to
though she wasn't harmed by the flying glass, she slipped and fell on a piece and cut her hand
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2
as in hurts
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
the company's reputation has been harmed by allegations of crooked accounting
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Recent Examples of harms
Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025
People with Alzheimer’s can experience abnormal glutamate activity that harms nerve cells, but memantine helps stunt that impact, potentially slowing symptoms that make day-to-day life more challenging.
—Alisa Hrustic, SELF, 24 Mar. 2025
These individuals believe that his presence on such platforms, irrespective of his tone, detracts from his primary role as AEW's president and ultimately harms the promotion's image.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 22 Mar. 2025
This inherent human tendency, which already harms people and society in an analog setting, is exacerbated by the circumstances of today's world.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025
Debt settlement also harms your credit but may not be as destructive as bankruptcy.
—Quinlan Grim, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025
Their filing even pointed out that Meta's pirating included copies of books written by at least 10 Supreme Court justices, seemingly hoping the judge will see that Meta's activity harms more than just authors.
—Ashley Belanger, Ars Technica, 12 Mar. 2025
Overwork also harms your physical health.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
This imbalance harms Argentine fishermen, Sócrate says.
—Avery Schmitz, CNN, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
Warming caused by fossil fuel emissions harms the natural world and people, especially the poor and future generations.
—Cite this Entry
“Harms.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/harms. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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