lexicow

injure

/ˈɪndʒər//ˈɪndʒə/·verb
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Definition

To injure is to do physical harm: to wound, hurt, or damage a body so that it no longer works as it should. A fall can injure a knee; a blast can injure dozens. The word also reaches beyond the body to pride, feelings, and reputation — an 'injured party' has been wronged, an 'injured look' shows hurt feelings. What unites the uses is a sudden harm done to something that was whole, leaving it damaged and in need of repair.

Examples

  • A single bad landing can injure a dancer badly enough to impede an entire season.
  • Even resilient athletes need months to recover once they injure a major joint.
  • His careless remark seemed designed to injure rather than to inform.

Collocations

seriously injure·injure yourself·injure a knee·an injured party·an injured look

Synonyms

wound·hurt·harm·damage·maim

Antonyms

heal·cure·soothe

Word family

injury (noun)·injured (adjective)·injurious (adjective)

In TOEFL & IELTS

Common in TOEFL/IELTS texts on sport, accidents, and health. 'Injure' takes a body or a person as its object (injure your back); the noun injury and adjective injured are even more frequent. For feelings, 'injured pride' is a useful collocation. Distinguish degrees: injure (general) versus the heavier 'maim' or 'cripple'.