DAMNING Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

damning 1 of 2

adjective

ˈda-miŋ

Definition of damning

as in disastrous

bringing about ruin or misfortune a damning flaw in the program cost the company millions of dollars

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damning

2 of 2

verb

present participle of damn

as in cursing

to use profane or obscene language at or about damned the car for once again breaking down

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in denouncing

to declare to be morally wrong or evil a heresy that was quickly damned by a hastily called church council

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sentencing

to impose a judicial punishment on damned him to life in prison without the possibility of parole

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of damning

Adjective

Undeterred, the press has continued to publish damning reports about his chaotic management of the Pentagon at home and the US military’s disastrous conduct overseas. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026 And, perhaps the most damning evidence was the information provided by Douglas Heim, who alleged that Heck approached him at a bowling alley shortly after killing Kahler and recruited him to help move and bury her body. — Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Verb

One damning part of the plan involved a potential future role for Infantino in the investment fund. — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Despite damning evidence, the judge throws out the case and Thorne goes free. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for damning

Recent Examples of Synonyms for damning

Adjective

But real power, particularly in numbers, can make things happen or stop really disastrous things from happening.

— Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The 46-year-old was dismissed from the Mets halfway through the 2026 season after a disastrous start, which included a 12-game losing streak in April.

— Frederick Sutton Sinclair, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disastrous

Verb

And, in a representative bid of concern, the coaches are cursing in their news conferences.

— Noah White, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
The drunk-and-disorderly charge is linked to a December incident, in which Minton is accused of shouting and cursing at patrons of a tattoo studio in Hickory, court records show.

— Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of cursing

Verb

If the main predictor of racial disparities in prison is poverty, then denouncing police and prosecutors as racist won't shrink those gaps.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Before entering politics, Correa published papers denouncing dollarization and sketched a plan to unwind it.

— Steve H. Hanke, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of denouncing

Verb

Cipparone also noted that the federal judge seemed to take Smith's apology as sincere, sentencing him to less time than what prosecutors recommended.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Such a motion can allow prosecutors to request a sentence reduction after sentencing based on a defendant’s assistance to investigators.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of sentencing

Adjective

Neighbors shocked about stabbing Neighbors say Thomas was known to have mental health issues and called the stabbing unfortunate.

— Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
To make matters worse, India’s Supreme Court, another vital democratic institution, has also played an unfortunate role in this train of events.

— Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of unfortunate

Verb

No commercial goods have entered the Gaza Strip for two days, Israeli authorities said Thursday, blaming the suspension on merchants angered by taxes imposed by the militant group Hamas — a claim that Palestinian importers deny.

— Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Guillard would go on to upload hundreds of videos blaming the professor, raking in millions of views.

— Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of blaming

Verb

The brazen, unmasked calls to erase Israel triggered fierce bipartisan backlash from lawmakers condemning the rising wave of open extremism.

— Staff, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Reddit users have been posting about the problem, and condemning Sega and the game’s developer, Creative Assembly.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of condemning

Adjective

Another e-bike rider died over the weekend in Huntington Beach, marking the second fatal incident involving an e-bike in the coastal city in months.

— Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Presley, Crawford’s son and Kaia’s older brother, died of a fatal overdose inside a rehab facility after years of struggling with addiction and his mental health.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of fatal

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Style

“Damning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damning. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of damning

adjective

verb

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