harm

noun \ ˈhärm \

Updated on: 4 Dec 2017

Definition of harm

1 : physical or mental damage : injury

the amount of harm sustained by the boat during the storm

2 : mischief, hurt

I meant you no harm.

See harm defined for English-language learners

See harm defined for kids

Examples of harm in a Sentence

They threatened him with bodily harm.
The scandal has done irreparable harm to his reputation.
She'll do anything to protect her children from harm.
They have suffered serious physical harm.
These new regulations could cause lasting harm to small businesses.

Recent Examples of harm from the Web

And collision avoidance systems have a variety of capabilities, including audible alerts that require driver response, automatic emergency braking and even steering the car out of harm’s way.

— jeremy straub, Smithsonian, "Computer Systems and Sensors Could Put a Stop To Car-Based Attacks," 4 Nov. 2017
Because the treatment seemed safe, Alkahest now wants to launch another trial that will use just the fraction of the blood plasma that contains growth factors, but not coagulation factors and other components that may do more harm than good.

— jocelyn kaiser, Science | AAAS, "Blood from young people does little to reverse Alzheimer’s in first test," 1 Nov. 2017
The nullification of the CFPB’s rule means that people who suffered financial harm or identity theft as a result of either of these large companies’ lapses may not have the right to take them to court.

— gillian b. white, The Atlantic, "Congress's Late-Night Vote to Protect Banks From Lawsuits," 25 Oct. 2017
There is nothing in this documentary that is going to be the cause of Sean being in any kind of harm’s way.

— matt miller, Esquire, "Sean Penn Probably Won't Die Because of This El Chapo Documentary, Producer Says," 24 Oct. 2017
State inspectors give citations to homes that don’t protect residents from bed sores, accidents, infections and other types of harm.

— jordan rau, Kaiser Health News, "Why Glaring Quality Gaps Among Nursing Homes Are Likely To Grow If Medicaid Is Cut," 28 Sep. 2017
According to a new study in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, examining American life expectancy from 2000 to 2015, various forms of self-harm eroded gains from better outcomes in treating, say, heart disease and cancer.

— david french, National Review, "When It Comes to American Health, Culture Trumps Politics," 21 Sep. 2017
At least 21 Americans have been medically confirmed to have suffered harm in Havana.

— josh lederman, chicagotribune.com, "Top diplomat says closing U.S. Embassy in Cuba 'under review'," 17 Sep. 2017
For every 12 suicide attempts or incidences of self-harm, one person dies — which means 11 people survive.

— marissa miller, Teen Vogue, "Halsey, Logic and Others Come Together for Suicide Prevention," 8 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'harm.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of harm

Middle English, from Old English hearm; akin to Old High German harm injury, Old Church Slavonic sramŭ shame

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

harm Synonyms

Synonyms

affliction, damage, detriment, injury, hurt

Related Words

disservice, injustice, outrage, wrong; affront, dart, indignity, insult, offense (or offence); beating, crippling, mayhem, mutilation; defacement, disability, disablement, disfigurement, impairment; lesion; rupture, strain; abrasion, chafe, scrape, scratch; boo-boo, bruise, contusion, swelling, wound; bump, concussion; cut, gash, laceration; burn, scald, scar, scathe, sear

Near Antonyms

healing, recovery; cure, fix, remedy

harm

verb

Definition of harm

transitive verb

: to damage or injure physically or mentally : to cause harm (see ¹harm) to

No animals were harmed in the making of the film.

the national interest … was gravely harmed by this attack
—Elmer Davis

—

harmer

noun

See harm defined for English-language learners

Examples of harm in a Sentence

He would never intentionally harm his children.
chemicals that could harm the environment
The scandal has seriously harmed his reputation.

Recent Examples of harm from the Web

People hadn’t learned to distrust others in the airport who might wish to harm them.

— bob greene, WSJ, "In Pittsburgh, Go to the Airport Without Getting on a Plane," 5 Oct. 2017
The proposal would fine drivers $500 and suspend their license for three months for violations that greatly harm another and fine them $1,000 and suspend their license for nine months in cases where the victim dies.

— patrick marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin Assembly taking up bill clearing the way to more mineral mining," 2 Nov. 2017
Roman immediately embraces Eleven as a sister and invites her into the gang, which is mostly focused on seeking revenge against the people who have harmed them, including key figures from Hawkins Labs.

— kayleigh roberts, Harper's BAZAAR, "Stranger Things Season 2: 11 Things We Learned," 27 Oct. 2017
Harada said that if Western Digital did gain an injunction order, that could harm banks’ willingness to provide Toshiba with any further financial support.

— Fortune, "Why Toshiba Is Still Weighing Its Options In Selling Its Prized Chip Unit," 24 Oct. 2017
Physical assault, including unwanted physical contact, fighting, and attempting to harm another person, is listed among the violations in Section 4 of the Boise State’s code of conduct.

— katy moeller, idahostatesman, "Witnesses say football player, student each threw punches in BSU dorm fight," 24 Oct. 2017
After being diagnosed with Lupus, founder Dana Jackson took her beauty regimen into her own hands, creating five products that wouldn’t harm her immune system — and happen to look great on your vanity.

— jillian ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "5 Brands to Shop From Neiman Marcus' New Indie Beauty Selection," 20 Oct. 2017
Investigators in those agencies said Wells Fargo had secretly opened millions of deposit and credit-card accounts that harmed its customers.

— kevin mccoy, USA TODAY, "Wells Fargo earnings: Profit falls on legal costs from bank accounts scandal," 13 Oct. 2017
The network's public editor has said that there is a perception that ESPN has become political and that has harmed the network.

— jimmy traina, SI.com, "White House Doubles Down On Saying Jemele Hill's Tweets Were Fireable Offense," 15 Sep. 2017

Origin and Etymology of harm

see ¹harm

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

harm Synonyms

Synonyms

damage, injure, hurt, wound

Antonyms

doctor, fix, mend, patch, rebuild, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, revamp

Related Words

batter, bloody, blow out, bruise, contuse, cut, gash, gore, lacerate, scald, scar, scathe, strain, tear; crease, graze, nick; cripple, hamstring, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate; abuse, aggrieve, afflict, maltreat, torment, torture; lay up; blemish, impair, mar, scrape, spoil

Near Antonyms

cure, fix, heal, mend, remedy

Synonym Discussion of harm

injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously. injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

- badly injured in an accident

harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

- careful not to harm the animals

hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

- hurt by their callous remarks

damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

- a table damaged in shipping

impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

- years of smoking had impaired his health

mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

- the text is marred by many typos

HARM Defined for English Language Learners

harm

noun

Definition of harm for English Language Learners

: physical or mental damage or injury : something that causes someone or something to be hurt, broken, made less valuable or successful, etc.

harm

verb

Definition of harm for English Language Learners

: to cause hurt, injury, or damage to (someone or something) : to cause harm to (someone or something)

HARM Defined for Kids

harm

noun \ ˈhärm \

Definition of harm for Students

: physical or mental damage : injury

The storm did little harm to the sheltered beach.

Synonym Discussion of harm

harm, injury, and damage mean an act that causes loss or pain. harm can be used of anything that causes suffering or loss.

- The frost did great harm to the crops.

injury is likely to be used of something that has as a result the loss of health or success.

- She suffered an injury to the eyes.

damage stresses the idea of loss (as of value or fitness).

- The fire caused much damage to the furniture.

harm

verb

Definition of harm for Students

harmed; harming

: to cause hurt, injury, or damage to

Too much sun can harm your skin.

Law Dictionary

harm

noun

legal Definition of harm

: loss of or damage to a person's right, property, or physical or mental well-being : injury

—

harm

transitive verb

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Definition of harm

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Origin and Etymology of harm

harm Synonyms

Synonyms

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harm

Definition of harm

harmer

Examples of harm in a Sentence

Recent Examples of harm from the Web

Origin and Etymology of harm

harm Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of harm

Phrases Related to HARM

Related Phrases

HARM Defined for English Language Learners

harm

Definition of harm for English Language Learners

harm

Definition of harm for English Language Learners

HARM Defined for Kids

harm

Definition of harm for Students

Synonym Discussion of harm

harm

Definition of harm for Students

Law Dictionary

harm

legal Definition of harm

harm

Learn More about harm

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