harm

Formsharms, harming, harmed

1. 1
   noununcountable

   Physical injury, hurt, or damage to a living body.

   The medication can cause harm if taken in large doses.

   Firefighters shielded the residents from harm during the blaze.

   Similarinjury, hurt, damage

2. 2
   verbtransitive

   To impair or damage something, generally a lifeless object rather than a person or animal.

   Salt spray can harm the metal fittings on a boat.

   Years of neglect harmed the old building's foundations.

   Similardamage, impair, weaken, spoil, hurt

   Oppositeprotect, preserve

3. 3
   noununcountable

   Emotional or figurative hurt, affecting feelings or reputation rather than the body.

   Constant criticism caused lasting harm to her self-esteem.

   The rumor did more harm to his reputation than he expected.

   Similardamage, hurt, injury

4. 4
   noununcountable

   Detriment or misfortune; a setback that works against someone's interests.

   There is little harm in delaying the decision by a week.

   The policy did real harm to small farmers across the region.

   Similardamage, detriment, disadvantage

   Oppositebenefit, good, advantage

5. 5
   noununcountable

   A thing, force, or influence that causes injury, damage, or loss.

   The charm was believed to ward off harm of every kind.

   He swore to protect them from any harm that might come.

   Similardanger, evil, peril, mischief

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