Hurtful: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when something causes emotional pain or distress.

• Her hurtful words made him sad
• The comment was hurtful to everyone in the room

Used to describe physical or emotional pain that is difficult to endure.

• It was a painful experience for everyone involved
• The injury was very painful and took weeks to heal

Refers to something that causes physical, emotional, or reputational harm or loss.

• The damaging rumors affected his career
• Smoking is damaging to your health

Used when something causes someone to feel upset or insulted, often related to inappropriate behavior or language.

• His joke was offensive to many people in the audience
• The article contained offensive language

Describes behavior that intentionally causes suffering or pain, often used in a morally negative sense.

• He was cruel to the animals, and everyone was horrified
• Her actions were cruel and unkind

Use 'hurtful' when referring to something that causes emotional pain or distress. It usually describes words, actions, or behaviors.

• His hurtful comments made her cry

Use 'harmful' when talking about something that causes physical or mental damage. It generally refers to effects rather than direct actions.

• Smoking is harmful to your health

Use 'injurious' in formal contexts to describe something that causes physical injury or damage. It can also describe harmful effects in a legal or medical context.

• The chemical leak had injurious effects on the local wildlife

Use 'wounding' to describe actions or words that cause emotional or mental pain. It often implies a deeper or more lasting hurt than 'hurtful'.

• Her wounding remarks left him feeling deeply hurt

Use 'traumatic' when describing events or experiences that cause deep emotional and psychological harm. It is often used in the context of severe and lasting mental distress.

• The car accident was a traumatic experience for all involved