hurt

1 of 2

verb

ˈhərt How to pronounce hurt (audio)
hurt; hurting
Synonyms of hurtnext

transitive verb

1
a
: to inflict with physical pain : wound
He hurt his back while moving some boxes.
was seriously hurt in a car accident
You're hurting my arm!
b
: to do substantial or material harm to : damage
the dry summer has hurt the land
2
a
: to cause emotional pain or anguish to : offend
never meant to hurt you
got her feelings hurt
b
: to be detrimental to : hamper
charges of graft hurt his chances of being elected

intransitive verb

1
a
: to suffer pain or grief
He says his tooth hurts.
has been hurting ever since learning of her friend's betrayal
b
: to be in need
—usually used with for
hurting for money
2
: to cause damage or distress
hit where it hurts
hurt adjective
hurter noun

hurt

2 of 2

noun

1
: a cause of injury or damage : blow
this tower of granite, weathering the hurts of so many ages— R. W. Emerson
2
a
: a bodily injury or wound
b
: mental or emotional distress or anguish : suffering
getting past the hurt of a bitter divorce
3
: wrong, harm
subordinating cosmic to moral considerations, to the hurt of both— M. R. Cohen

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus
Choose the Right Synonym for hurt

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

Examples of hurt in a Sentence

Verb Be careful with that knife or you could hurt yourself. Ouch! You're hurting my arm! She was badly hurt in a car accident.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
For me, nothing hurts worse than missing a dose at the start of a rainy period. — Elizabeth Medeiros, Health, 22 Mar. 2025 An omission, among other allegations, that Cook claimed hurt her reputation as an advocate for women. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2025
Noun
March 27 is an opportunity to dissolve barriers between the heart and the soul, and to soften the edges where hurt has hardened us. — Colin Bedell, Them, 20 Mar. 2025 The stock market is in a world of hurt, giving up all of its post-election gains due to worries about tariffs, trade wars, and the threat of recession. — Moneyshow, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hurt

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, probably from Anglo-French hurter to strike, prick, collide with, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Old Norse hrūtr male sheep

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hurt was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing hurt

Rhymes for hurt

See All Rhymes for hurt

Browse Nearby Words

Hurston
hurt
hurtable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurt. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hurt

1 of 2 verb
ˈhərt How to pronounce hurt (audio)
hurt; hurting
1
a
: to cause physical pain to
b
: to do harm to : damage
2
a
: to cause mental suffering to : offend
the teasing hurts me
b
: hamper entry 1
injuries hurt our chances of winning
3
: to feel or cause pain
my tooth hurts
hurter noun

hurt

2 of 2 noun
1
: a cause of injury or damage
2
: a physical injury or wound
3
a
: physical pain
b
: mental distress : suffering
4
: wrong entry 1 sense 1, harm

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