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Definition of hurtful

hurtful

/ˈhɝːt.fəl/
hurt · ful
Adverb:hurtfully
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hurtful Lexical Profile

hurtful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing emotional distress, grief, or wounded feelings; unkind or cruel.

Example

"She immediately apologized after realizing how hurtful her thoughtless comment had been."

2

Causing physical injury, material damage, or general detriment.

Example

"Prolonged exposure to loud industrial noise can be hurtful to delicate hearing organs."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for hurtful
Antonyms
View all antonyms for hurtful

Word Nuance & Usage

In modern usage, "hurtful" almost exclusively describes emotional distress or unkind remarks, whereas "harmful" or "injurious" is preferred for physical or material damage.

• Rhymes for hurtful

• Nearby Words

hurriedness
hurry
hurt
hurtful
hurtfully
hurtfulness
hurtle

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English around the late 14th century from the noun "hurt" (from Old French hurter, meaning "to strike or collide with") combined with the native Old English suffix "-ful".

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Hurtful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/hurtful
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