injure

[ in-jer ]

verb (used with object)

, in·jured, in·jur·ing.

1. to do or cause harm of any kind to; damage; hurt; impair:

   to injure one's hand.

   Synonyms: mar, break, ruin, spoil

   Antonyms: benefit

2. to do wrong or injustice to.

   Synonyms: abuse, maltreat

3. to wound or offend:

   to injure a friend's feelings.

injure

/ ˈɪndʒə /

verb

1. to cause physical or mental harm or suffering to; hurt or wound
2. to offend, esp by an injustice

Derived Forms

• ˈinjured, adjective
• ˈinjurable, adjective
• ˈinjurer, noun

Other Words From

• injur·a·ble adjective
• injur·er noun
• quasi-injured adjective
• re·injure verb (used with object) reinjured reinjuring
• un·injured adjective
• un·injur·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of injure¹

1575–85; back formation from injury (noun); replacing injury (verb)

Word History and Origins

Origin of injure¹

C16: back formation from injury

Synonym Study

Injure, impair mean to harm or damage something. Injure is a general term referring to any kind or degree of damage: to injure one's spine; to injure one's reputation. To impair is to make imperfect in any way, often with a suggestion of progressive deterioration and of permanency in the result: One's health is impaired by overwork.

Example Sentences

She also told relatives her son would injure himself while sleep-walking, but a medical expert said pre-school children did "not as a rule sleep-walk", Mr Lumley said.

From BBC

Alan W. Filion pleaded guilty to four counts of making interstate threats to injure people, federal authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times

It took just three minutes for Joel Cauchi to fatally stab six people and injure 10 more during a rampage at a popular Sydney shopping centre, an inquest into the attack has been told.

From BBC

And, do you really want to risk a potential collision at second base on a double play and injure one of your superstars?

From Los Angeles Times

For starters, the federal code criminalizes conspiring to injure any person because of their exercise of constitutional rights or their race.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• batter
• break
• damage
• harm
• hurt
• maim
• mutilate
• torture
• wound