Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
hurtful. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
hurtful, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
hurtful in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
hurtful you have here. The definition of the word
hurtful will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
hurtful, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
hurt + -ful
Adjective
hurtful (comparative more hurtful, superlative most hurtful)
- Tending to impair or damage; injurious; occasioning loss or injury.
1649, John Milton, Eikonoklastes:A good principle not rightly understood may prove as hurtful as a bad.
1890, George Henry Rohé, Text-book of hygiene:Well-cultivated soils are often healthy; nor at present has it been proved that the use of manure is hurtful.
- Tending to hurt someone's feelings; insulting.
2000, Michael Paymar, Violent No More:Both men and women can be emotionally abusive. Even in the healthiest relationships, people occasionally reach down into their personal bags of known remembrances, past disagreements, and unresolved issues, and fling hurtful comments at their partners.
2006, Ryan Phillips, Fall from Grace:Better yet, maybe she should call and apologize for all of the rude comments she spewed in the midst of her anger—hurtful comments that should never be spoken between a wife and her husband.
Synonyms
- (tending to impair or damage): pernicious, harmful, baneful, prejudicial, detrimental, disadvantageous, mischievous, injurious, noxious, unwholesome, destructive; see also Thesaurus:harmful
Related terms
Translations
tending to impair or damage
tending to hurt someone's feelings
References
- “hurtful”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- “hurtful”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “hurtful”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
Anagrams