injure

[in-jer]

verb (used with object)

injured, injuring 

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

Other Word Forms

• injurable adjective
• injurer noun
• quasi-injured adjective
• reinjure verb (used with object)
• uninjured adjective
• uninjuring adjective
• injured 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

Aaron Hickey, has just returned to football after nearly two years out injured.

From BBC

He would sneak on the bus to training, playing as a striker and scoring goals on the pitches built by drug lord Pablo Escobar, only donning the gloves after a team-mate was injured.

From BBC

Apart from the absence of injured captain Zoe Aldcroft, who hopes to return for the knockout stages, England are near full strength.

From BBC

On 25 July, a classroom roof collapsed in Piplodi, killing seven children, injuring 21 others and leaving the village school unusable.

From BBC

More than 20 people were also injured, with five in a critical condition.

From BBC

Related Words

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