1
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
the most hurtful thing you can do to this silk dress is put it in the dryer
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
her ex-husband said hurtful things that she could never forgive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hurtful
These accusations are completely false and deeply hurtful.
—
Christina Dugan Ramirez , Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
These claims are not only untrue but also deeply hurtful.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Watson and Radcliffe have consistently voiced support for transgender rights, sometimes in direct contrast to Rowling reiterating hurtful rhetoric that is tied to the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) movement, which posits the belief that trans women are not women.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
In a later post, police said that Lee’s death was deeply hurtful for the community.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Christina Dugan Ramirez , Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2025
These claims are not only untrue but also deeply hurtful.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Watson and Radcliffe have consistently voiced support for transgender rights, sometimes in direct contrast to Rowling reiterating hurtful rhetoric that is tied to the TERF (trans-exclusionary radical feminists) movement, which posits the belief that trans women are not women.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
In a later post, police said that Lee’s death was deeply hurtful for the community.
—Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurtful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurtful
Adjective
-
The findings come just a couple years after another study conducted by Spanish and Brazilian researchers revealed the existence of potentially harmful bisphenol chemicals in clothing sold in Spain for pregnant women, newborns and toddlers.—
Jennifer Bringle,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
-
According to one study, people may become either psychologically or physically dependent on caffeine, which may be harmful.—
Brittany Lubeck,
Verywell Health,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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There’s a wonderful chapter in which an older woman extolls a younger one to tell a painful story not with words, but with movements, so as to expel her pain without enlisting narrative’s power to summon, and thus force a re-living, of painful events.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
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If anything, Peck hoped that the film’s density and wide scope would illuminate how frequently the past’s most painful moments repeat themselves.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Mercury is a neurotoxin and can have detrimental effects on our health if levels are too high.—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
20 Oct. 2025
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The Vikings’ run defense has been detrimental to an otherwise strong group on that side of the ball.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In Pahani’s 2006 award-winning comedy Offside, about the cruel cultural chains binding Iranian women, a group of young women attempt to gain entry to a stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Japan.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There is no reason to be cruel to people.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean are staring down what could become a catastrophic, days-long assault of extreme rainfall and damaging winds with a strengthening Tropical Storm Melissa expected to become a major hurricane over some of the hottest ocean water on the planet.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Despite how terribly damaging America has been recently, that country and those ideals remain worth fighting for.—
Lars Brandle,
Billboard,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli is charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm while traveling on an aircraft, according to a news release from the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
28 Oct. 2025
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This connection would become increasingly important over the twentieth century, as the rapid development of technological infrastructure created ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous sensitivities to geomagnetic storms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
There is no known level of lead exposure that is considered safe and some people are at even higher risk of adverse effects, warned the agency, including young children, people of child-bearing age and people who are breastfeeding.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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Given an adverse court ruling (related to another firm) that was adverse to Netflix, management recognized the expense this quarter.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hurtful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurtful. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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