Hurtful

/ˈhɜːtfʊl/ · adjective

Meaning

Tending to impair or damage; injurious; occasioning loss or injury..

Definitions by Sense

1. Tending to impair or damage; injurious; occasioning loss or injury.
2. Tending to hurt someone's feelings; insulting; lacerating.

Example Sentences

A good principle not rightly understood may prove as hurtful as a bad.

Well-cultivated soils are often healthy; nor at present has it been proved that the use of manure is hurtful.

Both men and women can be emotionally abusive. Even in the healthiest relationships, people occasionally reach down into their personal bags of known remembrances, past disagreements, and unresolved issues, and fling hurtful comments at their partners.

Better yet, maybe she should call and apologize for all of the rude comments she spewed in the midst of her anger—hurtful comments that should never be spoken between a wife and her husband.

This mentality made me an incredibly hurtful person, but I wasn't concerned with how others felt about me.

She told CNN’s State of the Union show: “His [Donald Trump's] remarks, of course, have been hurtful … the most hurtful thing he said, which is absolutely untrue, is he called me a traitor and that is so extremely wrong.”

Synonyms for hurtful

Antonyms for hurtful

Related Words

Word Forms

• more hurtful
• most hurtful
• hurtfull

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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